Sci-Tech news

• Study asks kids to choose wildlife conservation priorities

  04-05-2016 23:00
  
  North Carolina elementary students' priorities for which wildlife species to protect closely matched those of conservation biologists but differed significantly from adults' rankings, a North Carolina State University study found.
  
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• Are we finally, really going to Mars?

  04-05-2016 22:50 via rss.cnn.com
  
  Podcast favorites: Bernie gets the Axe | Radical Islam in America | Graham Opposes GOP Leader
  
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• Pluto's interactions with the solar wind are unique, study finds

  04-05-2016 22:20
  
  Pluto has some characteristics less like that of a comet and more like much larger planets, according to an analysis of Pluto's unique interaction with the solar wind, scientists say.
  
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• Engineers create a better way to boil water—with industrial, electronics applications

  04-05-2016 21:19
  
  Engineers at Oregon State University have found a new way to induce and control boiling bubble formation, that may allow everything from industrial-sized boilers to advanced electronics to work better and last longer.
  
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• Skepticism about climate change may be linked to concerns about economy

  04-05-2016 21:18
  
  Americans may be more likely to accept the scientific evidence of human-caused climate change and its potentially devastating effects if they believe the economy is strong and stable, according to new research published by the American Psychological Association.
  
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• First global analysis indicates leopards have lost nearly 75 percent of their historic range

  04-05-2016 21:17
  
  The leopard (Panthera pardus), one of the world's most iconic big cats, has lost as much as 75 percent of its historic range, according to a paper published today in the scientific journal PeerJ. Conducted by partners including the National Geographic Society's Big Cats Initiative, international conservation charities the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and Panthera and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Cat Specialist Group, this study represents the first known attemp
  
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• New evidence connects dung beetle evolution to dinosaurs

  04-05-2016 21:16
  
  Cleveland... Researchers have found an evolutionary connection between dinosaurs and dung beetles. An international team of scientists uncovered the first molecular evidence indicating that dung beetles evolved in association with dinosaurs. The findings place the origin of dung beetles (Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) in the Lower Cretaceous period, with the first major diversification occurring in the middle of the Cretaceous. This timeline places their origins approximately 30 million years earli
  
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• Facebook Pays $10,000 to 10-Year-Old Instagram Hacker

  04-05-2016 20:03 via nbcnews.com
  
  Social media giant Facebook has paid a $10,000 reward to a 10- year-old Finnish boy for finding a glitch in its picture sharing app Instagram.
  
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• The contented shall inherit the Earth—The glum? Not so much

  04-05-2016 20:00
  
  The survival of the fittest might just be the survival of the steadfast instead. Having a positive attitude could be evolutionarily advantageous, according to Cornell researchers who simulated generations of evolution in a computational model.
  
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• Long-term monitoring reveals effects of sea star wasting along Oregon coast

  04-05-2016 20:00
  
  The 2013-2014 sea star wasting epidemic along the Oregon Coast may have been caused by multiple factors and had significant effects on the sea star population and its prey in the area, according to a study published May 4, 2016 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Bruce Menge from Oregon State University, USA, and colleagues.
  
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• Comparative analysis reveals use patterns of deeper Caribbean coral reefs by shark species

  04-05-2016 20:00
  
  Three species of shark, tiger, lemon and Caribbean reef, all use deeper coral reefs in the Virgin Islands, but only lemon shark presence was associated with seasonal grouper spawning aggregations, according to a study published May 4, 2016 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Alexandria Pickard from Nova Southeastern University, Florida, Bradley Wetherbee of the University of Rhode Island and colleagues.
  
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• A new mobile phone app for grassroots mapping

  04-05-2016 20:00
  
  University of Exeter academics have created an app which could help aid humanitarian rescue work in disaster-struck regions by using geographic data to map landscapes.
  
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• Charging produces highly reactive singlet oxygen in lithium air batteries

  04-05-2016 19:48
  
  Rechargeable lithium air batteries are a next-generation technology: Theoretically they might be much lighter and offer better performance than current lithium ion batteries. However, currently they run out of steam after only a few charging cycles. Researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the Forschungszentrum Jülich have now investigated the processes and discovered a possible culprit: highly reactive singlet oxygen, which is released when the batteries are charged.
  
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• Researchers find new way to control quantum systems

  04-05-2016 19:40
  
  Researchers from the Department of Applied Mathematics and the Institute for Quantum Computing at the University of Waterloo have developed a versatile new way of controlling quantum systems that can affect the reliability of experiments.
  
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• India Rejects Apple's Plan to Import Used iPhones

  04-05-2016 19:37 via nbcnews.com
  
  India has rejected a plan by Apple Inc to import used iPhones, government officials said on Wednesday, a blow to the U.S. tech giant.
  
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• Man claiming to be bitcoin founder to provide further proof

  04-05-2016 19:25
  
  Australian entrepreneur Craig Wright, the man who came forward this week as bitcoin's founder, says he will provide further proof in the coming days to back up his claims.
  
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• Researchers say they're closing in on Captain Cook's ship (Update)

  04-05-2016 19:10
  
  Researchers say they believe the ship that 18th century explorer Capt. James Cook used to sail around the world is still submerged somewhere in Rhode Island's Newport Harbor, but it'll take a lot of work and money to identify it.
  
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• Researchers say they're closing in on Captain Cook's ship

  04-05-2016 19:10
  
  Researchers say they believe the ship that 18th century explorer Capt. James Cook used to sail around the world is still submerged somewhere in Rhode Island's Newport Harbor, but it'll take a lot of work and money to identify it.
  
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• 2017 Audi A4 brings more power, room and technology

  04-05-2016 19:09
  
  The Audi A4 luxury sedan has been revamped from top to bottom for 2017 with a more powerful engine, new transmission and more room and technology inside.
  
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• Advance In Human Embryo Research Rekindles Ethical Debate - NPR

  04-05-2016 19:05
  
  NPR
  Advance In Human Embryo Research Rekindles Ethical Debate
  NPR
  Scientists have been able to make and study human embryos in their labs for decades. But they have never been able to keep them alive outside a woman's womb for more than about a week. That limitation meant scientists were unable to conduct a range of ...
  Scientists double life expectancy for embryos in petri dishes, raising ethical concernsWashington Post
  Scientists grow human embryos outside of womb for 13 daysChristian Sc
  
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• How tree crickets tune into each other's songs

  04-05-2016 19:03
  
  It's known as the cocktail-party problem: in the cacophony of sound made by insects in a spring meadow, how does one species recognize its own song?
  
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• Venus flytrap exploits plant defenses in carnivorous lifestyle

  04-05-2016 19:00
  
  Venus flytraps have fascinated biologists for centuries, however, the molecular underpinnings of their carnivorous lifestyle remain largely unknown. In a study published online today in Genome Research, researchers characterized gene expression, protein secretion, and ultrastructural changes during stimulation of Venus flytraps and discover that common plant defense systems, which typically protect plants from being eaten, are also used by Venus flytraps for insect feeding.
  
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• JILA extends laser 'combing' method to identify large, complex molecules

  04-05-2016 19:00
  
  JILA physicists have extended the capability of their powerful laser "combing" technique to identify the structures of large, complex molecules of the sort found in explosives, pharmaceuticals, fuels and the gases around stars.
  
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• Humans have faster metabolism than closely related primates, enabling larger brains

  04-05-2016 19:00
  
  Loyola University Chicago researchers are among the co-authors of a groundbreaking study that found humans have a higher metabolism rate than closely related primates, which enabled humans to evolve larger brains.
  
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• Ground-breaking images of nearby star give new insight into Sun's infancy

  04-05-2016 19:00
  
  Pioneering new research that has provided close-up pictures of a nearby star has given a fascinating insight into how the Sun may have behaved billions of years ago.
  
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• European aviation agency sets up drone collision task force

  04-05-2016 18:50
  
  The European Aviation Safety Agency is setting up a task force to examine the risk of collisions between drones and aircraft.
  
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• Hulu will offer live-streaming service in 2017

  04-05-2016 18:34
  
  Hulu will offer a live-streaming service in 2017 that will offer a mix of cable and broadcast programming as well as news, sports and events.
  
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• Equilibrium modeling increases contact lens comfort

  04-05-2016 18:33
  
  According to the Vision Council of America, roughly 75% of adults in the United States require some form of vision correction. Yet only 10% of Americans wear contact lenses. Studies estimate that one in four initial contact-users finds the lenses uncomfortable and stops wearing them. Thus, increasing the comfort level of contact lenses and expanding the market is a continual objective in the vision industry.
  
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• Phoney protection for passwords

  04-05-2016 18:32
  
  Corporate data breaches seem to be on the rise, rarely a week passes without a company revealing that its database has been hacked and regrettably usernames, passwords, credit card details and its customers' personal information has been leaked on to the open internet. A new protection, nicknamed Phoney, is reported in the International Journal of Embedded Systems.
  
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• Bringing low-cost solar panels to the market

  04-05-2016 18:31
  
  In just one hour, the Earth receives more than enough energy from the sun to meet the world population's electricity needs in an entire year. Tapping that vast power output efficiently and at low cost remains a challenge, but new technologies could change that. The cover story in Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), the weekly newsmagazine of the American Chemical Society, explores whether emerging solar technologies could soon break into the market.
  
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• Hollywood star Brad Pitt shares a name with a new wasp species from South Africa

  04-05-2016 18:29
  
  Not only did an international research team discover two new endoparasitic wasp species in South Africa and India, and significantly expanded their genera's distributional range, but they also gave a celebrity name to a special one of them.
  
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• New immigrant: Shiny cowbirds noted from a recording altitude of 2,800 m in Ecuador

  04-05-2016 18:24
  
  Two juveniles of Shiny Cowbird, a parasitic bird that lays its eggs in the nests of other birds, were spotted in the Andean city of Quito, Ecuador, for the first time. This finding represents an altitudinal expansion of approximately 500 m.
  
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• Squished cells could shape design of synthetic materials

  04-05-2016 18:23
  
  Life is flexible. All living cells are basically squishy balloons full of water, proteins and DNA, surrounded by oily membranes. Those membranes stand up to significant amounts of stretching and bending, but only recently have scientists started to fully appreciate the useful organization and functions that result from all that stress.
  
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• The art—and science—behind treasured Japanese porcelain

  04-05-2016 18:22
  
  Porcelain connoisseurs have prized the traditional Japanese-style ceramics called akae, typically known for Kakiemon-style ware, for centuries. Its paintings feature a vivid red color against a milky white background. Artisans have passed on their techniques to produce this type of porcelain for generations, but these methods are poorly documented. Now scientists report in the journal ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces a practical method for preparing red paints for high-quality akae.
  
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• Louisiana Tech University team uses 3-D printing, sustainable materials to create UAV

  04-05-2016 18:20
  
  A team of mechanical engineering students from Louisiana Tech University has used 3D printing and sustainable materials to create a custom unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that could help NASA improve its efforts to study UAV applications and establish an infrastructure to enable and safely manage the widespread use of low-altitude airspace.
  
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• Disparity in cultural sector funding deprives regional museums, libraries and heritage sites

  04-05-2016 18:20
  
  An academic from the University of Leicester has suggested that disparities in funding for the cultural sector at a regional level results in cultural institutions and programmes in many areas of the UK being deprived of vital resources.
  
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• Searching for signs of disease in spit

  04-05-2016 18:15
  
  Testing for health conditions usually involves needles, X-rays and other invasive or uncomfortable measures. To make diagnostics less burdensome for patients, scientists are developing alternatives, looking for disease markers in urine—and even spit. Now a study, appearing in ACS' Journal of Proteome Research, demonstrates for the first time that individuals may have saliva "fingerprints." The finding suggests that identifying changes in these baseline fingerprints could someday be a relia
  
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• A better bone replacement: 3-D printed bone with just the right mix of ingredients

  04-05-2016 18:14
  
  To make a good framework for filling in missing bone, mix at least 30 percent pulverized natural bone with some special man-made plastic and create the needed shape with a 3-D printer. That's the recipe for success reported by researchers at The Johns Hopkins University in a paper published April 18 online in ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering.
  
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• Measuring the airborne toxicants urban bicyclists inhale

  04-05-2016 18:13
  
  By switching from four wheels to two, bicyclists help reduce traffic and air pollution—all while getting much-needed exercise. But that health benefit could be costly, due to exposure to potentially harmful compounds in motor vehicle exhaust. In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers analyzed breath samples to find out how much of these compounds are absorbed by the body. They report their findings in ACS' Environmental Science & Technology.
  
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• Researchers reveal top 10 most popular reptiles

  04-05-2016 18:06
  
  Scientists from Oxford University and Tel Aviv University have ranked the world's most 'popular' reptiles, revealing the species that capture the public's imagination and providing valuable quantitative data towards the debate surrounding conservation priorities.
  
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• Was the Force behind Leicester's football success?

  04-05-2016 18:00
  
  For many fans around the world May 4th is Star Wars Day, playing on the popular phrase 'May the Force Be With You' uttered by many characters in the films including Luke Skywalker's mentor, Yoda.
  
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• Stocks overvalued longer and more often than previously thought, says study

  04-05-2016 16:07
  
  The collapse of the dot-com bubble followed by the housing bubble showed the potential for wild swings in asset prices to bring down global economies. A new study complicates the picture by showing that individual stocks may be overpriced for longer periods of time, and more often, than previously thought.
  
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• 'May the Fourth Be With You': Fans Celebrate Star Wars Day

  04-05-2016 15:41 via nbcnews.com
  
  From dressing up as stormtroopers to hosting movie marathons, fans celebrated Star Wars Day with all things dedicated to the blockbuster franchise.
  
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• How much electromagnetic radiation am I exposed to?

  04-05-2016 15:26
  
  A team of researchers from Center for Biomedical Technology (CTB) at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) has developed a pocket instrument capable of perceiving radio signals from 50 MHz to 6 MHz and storing this information in a non-volatile memory. After collecting and storing the information, the system assesses the daily exposure of a person to electromagnetic radiation.
  
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• Safer, greener, cheaper route to ultra-cold freezers

  04-05-2016 15:24
  
  Scientists at Brunel University London have engineered an innovative new method to build the next generation of freezers capable of reaching temperatures as low as - 180°C by using advanced cryogenically cooled heat pipe technology.
  
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• Genome sequences of early-diverging fungi help track origins of white rot fungi

  04-05-2016 15:17
  
  Researchers utilized draft genome sequences of 10 white rot and brown rot fungi representing early-diverging groups to help refine the timeline that dates the enzymatic origins of lignocellulose decomposition.
  
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• More accurate predictions for harvesting hydrogen with iridium oxide nanoparticles

  04-05-2016 15:16
  
  Iridium oxide (IrO2) nanoparticles are useful electrocatalysts for splitting water into oxygen and hydrogen—a clean source of hydrogen for fuel and power. However, its high cost demands that researchers find the most efficient structure for IrO2 nanoparticles for hydrogen production.
  
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• Legacies of cotton, atomic age linger in soil

  04-05-2016 15:16
  
  On the second floor of the Levine Science Research Center, in a tall wooden cabinet that could easily be mistaken for an antique dresser, Duke University professor Dan Richter keeps an unusual collection: nearly 600 jars holding hundreds of pounds of Piedmont soil.
  
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• Searching big data for disease resistance in crops

  04-05-2016 15:15
  
  Researchers at the Centre for Crop and Disease Management are using big data approaches to study fungal genome evolution, which will one day lead to a better understanding of crop protection.
  
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• ASKAP test finds "monster" black hole

  04-05-2016 15:14
  
  Imagine trying on new pair of spectacles and when glancing around to test them you spot a monster—that's exactly what happened when the ASKAP antennas were turned towards a group of three merging galaxies 1.8 billion light years away.
  
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