UN: Shipwreck off Libya leaves 2 women, 3 children drowned
Wednesday 31 March 2021
The 'one who causes fear' - new meat-eating predator discovered
Superbly preserved braincase of this new species is an important find - it suggests there was a greater diversity and abundance of abelisaurids late in dinosaurs' era than previously thought.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210330210956.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210330210956.htm
Urban squirrels, how much are we disturbing you?
Human disturbance in urban environments makes some squirrels fail, but others perform better in novel problem-solving.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210330210943.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210330210943.htm
Endangered songbird challenging assumptions about evolution
New research looked at a newly discovered, endangered songbird located only in South America -- the Iberá Seedeater -- and found that this bird followed a very rare evolutionary path to come into existence at a much faster pace than the grand majority of species.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210330171034.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210330171034.htm
An organic material for the next generation of HVAC technologies
On sultry summer afternoons, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems provide much-needed relief from the harsh heat and humidity. These systems, which often come with dehumidifiers, are currently not energy efficient, guzzling around 76% of the electricity in commercial and residential buildings.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210330171023.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210330171023.htm
Kumon or Montessori? It may depend on your politics, according to new study of 8,500 parents
Whether parents prefer a conformance-oriented or independence-oriented supplemental education program for their children depends on political ideology, according to a study of more than 8,500 American parents.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210330171012.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210330171012.htm
Architecture of Eolian successions under icehouse and greenhouse conditions
Anthropogenic climate change is one of the foremost scientific and societal challenges. In part, our response to this global challenge requires an enhanced understanding of how the Earth's surface responds to episodes of climatic heating and cooling.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210330171009.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210330171009.htm
Early Earth's hot mantle may have led to Archean 'water world'
Earth's sea level has remained fairly constant during the last 541 million years, but a new study suggests the planet may have been covered by a vast global ocean 4 to 3.2 billion years ago.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210330171018.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210330171018.htm
Status of greater sage-grouse populations
A new report highlights the decline of greater sage-grouse across the American West while providing a roadmap to aid the conservation of the species.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210330143112.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210330143112.htm
Synthetic mucus can mimic the real thing
Researchers have generated synthetic mucins with a polymer backbone that more accurately mimics the structure and function of naturally occurring mucins. They also showed that these synthetic mucins could effectively neutralize the bacterial toxin that causes cholera.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210330143107.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210330143107.htm
Tuesday 30 March 2021
Researchers notice pattern on surface of leaves, uncover new clue about plant evolution
A doctoral student has identified a long-overlooked pattern in how plants evolved their equivalent of lungs -- tiny pores on the surfaces of leaves called stomata. Using specialized imaging techniques and a plant species not often found in laboratories, researchers say this discovery reveals a key difference in the evolution of plants that live on land versus those that can grow in water.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210329153341.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210329153341.htm
Jordan's worsening water crisis a warning for the world
Prolonged and potentially destabilizing water shortages will become commonplace in Jordan by 2100, new research finds, unless the nation implements comprehensive reform, from fixing leaky pipes to desalinating seawater. Jordan's water crisis is emblematic of challenges looming around the world as a result of climate change and rapid population growth.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210329200315.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210329200315.htm
Air pollution and physical exercise: When to do more or less
Physical activity is important in preventing heart and blood vessel disease in young people so long as they don't undertake very strenuous activity on days when air pollution levels are high, according to a nationwide study of nearly 1.5 million people published in the European Heart Journal.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210329200307.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210329200307.htm
Protein rewires metabolism to block cancer cell death, may allow cancer spread
One specific protein may be a master regulator for changing how cancer cells consume nutrients from their environments, preventing cell death and increasing the likelihood the cancer could spread, a study has shown.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210329155956.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210329155956.htm
Drug coupons and vouchers cover only a sliver of prescription drugs
Use of vouchers and coupons offered by pharmaceutical companies to defray patients' out-of-pocket drug costs is concentrated among a small number of drugs.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210329122741.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210329122741.htm
Mummified parrots point to trade in the ancient Atacama desert
Ancient Egyptians mummified cats, dogs, ibises and other animals, but closer to home in the South American Atacama desert, parrot mummies reveal that between 1100 and 1450 CE, trade from other areas brought parrots and macaws to oasis communities, according to an international and interdisciplinary team.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210329153328.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210329153328.htm
Monday 29 March 2021
Sunday 28 March 2021
Saturday 27 March 2021
The persistent danger after landscape fires
Every year, an estimated four percent of the world's vegetated land surface burns, leaving more than 250 megatons of carbonized plants behind. A study has now recorded elevated concentrations of environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFR) in these charcoals - in some cases even up to five years after the fire. These EPFR may generate reactive substances, which in turn harm plants and living organisms.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210326122730.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210326122730.htm
A general approach to high-efficiency perovskite solar cells
Researchers developed a general methodology for the reproducible fabrication of high efficiency perovskite solar cells.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210326104732.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210326104732.htm
Chemists achieve breakthrough in the production of three-dimensional molecular structures
A research team has succeeded in converting flat nitrogen-containing molecules into three-dimensional structures. These now significantly expand the range of molecules that chemists can draw on in their search for new active ingredients.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210325190251.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210325190251.htm
Researchers harvest energy from radio waves to power wearable devices
From microwave ovens to Wi-Fi connections, the radio waves that permeate the environment are not just signals of energy consumed but are also sources of energy themselves. An international team of researchers has developed a way to harvest energy from radio waves to power wearable devices.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210325190246.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210325190246.htm
Cholesterol may be key to new therapies for Alzheimer's disease, diabetes
A researcher examined the role of cholesterol in both Alzheimer's disease and Type 2 diabetes to identify a small molecule that may help regulate cholesterol levels in the brain, making it a potential new therapeutic target for Alzheimer's disease.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210325150226.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210325150226.htm
Fast-acting, color-changing molecular probe senses when a material is about to fail
Materials that contain special polymer molecules may someday be able to warn us when they are about to fail, researchers said. Engineers have improved their previously developed force-sensitive molecules, called mechanophores, to produce reversible, rapid and vibrant color change when a force is applied.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210325150218.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210325150218.htm
California's diesel emissions rules reduce air pollution, protect vulnerable communities
Since 1990, California has used its authority under the federal Clean Air Act to enact more aggressive rules on emissions from diesel vehicles and engines compared to the rest of the U.S. Extending these standards to the rest of the U.S. could dramatically improve the nation's air quality and health, particularly in lower income communities of color, finds a new analysis.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210325150148.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210325150148.htm
Friday 26 March 2021
Ocean currents predicted on Saturn's moon Enceladus
New research could inform where to one day search for signs of life on Saturn's moon Enceladus.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210325190249.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210325190249.htm
Turning wood into plastic
Plastics are one of the world's largest polluters, taking hundreds of years to degrade in nature. A research team has created a high-quality bioplastic from wood byproducts that they hope can solve one of the world's most pressing environmental issues.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210325190243.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210325190243.htm
Narcissism driven by insecurity, not grandiose sense of self
Narcissism is driven by insecurity, and not an inflated sense of self, finds a new study, which may also explain what motivates the self-focused nature of social media activity.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210325150223.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210325150223.htm
Exposure to flame retardants early in pregnancy linked to premature birth
Expectant women are more likely to give birth early if they have high blood levels of a chemical used in flame retardants compared with those who have limited exposure, a new study finds.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210325150212.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210325150212.htm
Ocean's mammals at crucial crossroads
The ocean's mammals are at a crucial crossroads - with some at risk of extinction and others showing signs of recovery, researchers say.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210325150153.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210325150153.htm
Changes in ocean chemistry show how sea level affects global carbon cycle
A new analysis of strontium isotopes in marine sediments has enabled scientists to reconstruct fluctuations in ocean chemistry related to changing climate conditions over the past 35 million years. The results provide new insights into the inner workings of the global carbon cycle and, in particular, the processes by which carbon is removed from the environment through the deposition of carbonates.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210325150151.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210325150151.htm
Moderate daily caffeine intake during pregnancy may lead to smaller birth size
Pregnant women who consumed the caffeine equivalent of as little as half a cup of coffee a day on average had slightly smaller babies than pregnant women who did not consume caffeinated beverages, according to a new study.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210325150122.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210325150122.htm
New documentation: Old-growth forest carbon sinks overestimated
The claim that old-growth forests play a significant role in climate mitigation, based upon the argument that even the oldest forests keep sucking CO2 out of the atmosphere, is being refuted. Researchers document that this argument is based upon incorrectly analyzed data and that the climate mitigation effect of old and unmanaged forests has been greatly overestimated. Nevertheless, they reassert the importance of old-growth forest for biodiversity.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210325150055.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210325150055.htm
Wisdom, loneliness and your intestinal multitude
Scientists have taken the connection between wisdom, loneliness and biology one step further, reporting that wisdom and loneliness appear to influence -- and/or be influenced by -- microbial diversity of the gut.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210325150024.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210325150024.htm
Soft robotic dragonfly signals environmental disruptions
Engineers have developed an electronics-free, entirely soft robot shaped like a dragonfly that can skim across the water and react to environmental conditions such as pH, temperature or the presence of oil. The proof-of-principle demonstration could be the precursor to more advanced, autonomous, long-range environmental sentinels for monitoring a wide range of potential telltale signs of problems.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210325120827.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210325120827.htm
'Climbing droplets' could lead to more efficient water harvesting
Researchers have discovered that a novel surface they developed to harvest water from the air encourages tiny water droplets to move spontaneously into larger droplets. When researchers placed microdroplets of water on their liquid-lubricant surface, the microdroplets propelled themselves to climb, without external force, into larger droplets along an oily, ramp-shaped meniscus that forms from the lubricant around the larger droplets. The 'coarsening droplet phenomenon' formed droplets large enough for harvesting.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210325120810.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210325120810.htm
Ancient megafaunal mutualisms and extinctions as factors in plant domestication
The development of agriculture is often thought of as a human innovation in response to climate change or population pressure. A new manuscript challenges that concept, suggesting that plants that had already evolved adaptive traits for life among large-bodied grazing and browsing animals were more likely to prosper on a highly disturbed anthropogenic landscape.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210325115411.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210325115411.htm
The very first structures in the Universe
The first moments of the Universe can be reconstructed mathematically even though they cannot be observed directly. Physicists have greatly improved the ability of complex computer simulations to describe this moment, discovering that a complex network of structures can form in the first trillionth of a second after the Big Bang. These microscopic clumps have masses of only a few grams and fit into volumes much smaller than particles.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210325115351.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210325115351.htm
Arctic sponge survival in the extreme deep-sea
Researchers from the SponGES project collected year-round video footage and hydrodynamic data from the mysterious world of a deep-sea sponge ground in the Arctic.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210325101251.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210325101251.htm
New insights into close encounters between albatross and fishing vessels
A novel analysis of encounters between albatross and commercial fishing vessels across the North Pacific Ocean is giving researchers important new understanding about seabird-vessel interactions that could help reduce harmful encounters.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210325101215.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210325101215.htm
Revealing nano big bang: Scientists observe the first milliseconds of crystal formation
Scientists recruited a world-leading microscope to capture atomic-resolution, high-speed images of gold atoms self-organizing, falling apart, and then reorganizing many times before settling into a stable, ordered crystal.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210325101209.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210325101209.htm
Want a longer, healthier life? Resolve your arguments by day's end
A recent study found that when people feel they have resolved an argument, the emotional response associated with that disagreement is significantly reduced and, in some situations, almost entirely erased.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210325084833.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210325084833.htm
Greenland caves: Time travel to a warm Arctic
An international team of scientists presents an analysis of sediments from a cave in northeast Greenland, that cover a time period between about 588,000 to 549,000 years ago. This interval was warmer and wetter than today, the cave deposits provide an outlook in a possible future warmer world due to climate change.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210324142842.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210324142842.htm
Lighting up bone repair
Researchers from TMDU fabricated a bright fluorescent bone replacement material, based on a precursor to bone tissue that's common in medical practice. The material will be useful in bone repair and dental implants, and facilitate bone regrowth while providing new diagnostic and prognostic functionalities.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210324113437.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210324113437.htm
Thursday 25 March 2021
Dow-like index for energy prices might help smooth transition to clean power
Since the early industrial revolution in the mid-1700s, fossil fuels have acquired an ever-growing footprint in energy production. However, the environmental concerns of fossil fuels use and their inevitable depletion have led to a global shift toward renewable energy sources. These transitions, however, raise questions about the best choice of renewables and the impact of investing in these resources on consumer cost.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210324113345.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210324113345.htm
Waste from making purple corn chips yields a natural dye, supplements, kitty litter
The more colorful a food, the more nutritious it probably is. For example, purple corn contains compounds associated with a reduced risk of developing diabetes and heart disease. The cobs contain the same compounds but are typically thrown out. Now, researchers report a step-wise biorefinery approach that uses the whole cob, producing a dye and a possible nutraceutical with the pigments, and an animal litter with the left-overs.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210324113342.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210324113342.htm
Wednesday 24 March 2021
Rugby study identifies new method to diagnose concussion using saliva
A study of top-flight UK rugby players has identified a method of accurately diagnosing concussion using saliva, paving the way for the first non-invasive clinical test for concussion.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210323183823.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210323183823.htm
Researchers hunt for drugs that keep HIV latent
When the human immunodeficiency virus infects cells, it can either exploit the cells to start making more copies of itself or remain dormant -- a phenomenon called latency. Keeping these reservoirs latent is a challenge. A new paper has found a way to look for chemicals that can keep the virus suppressed into its dormant state.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210323175853.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210323175853.htm
Scientists observe complex tunable magnetism in a topological material
Scientists have observed novel helical magnetic ordering in the topological compound EuIn2As2 which supports exotic electrical conduction tunable by a magnetic field.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210323175848.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210323175848.htm
Changes in Antarctic marine ecosystems
Understanding the evolution of the polar sea ice is not enough to study the effects of the climate change on marine ecosystems in Antarctic seafloors. It is also necessary to determine the intensity of phytoplankton local production during the Antarctic summer.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210323150824.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210323150824.htm
With drop in LA's vehicular aerosol pollution, vegetation emerges as major source
Organic aerosol pollutants have decreased in the Los Angeles area due to strict vehicle emissions controls, but aerosol levels still rise in hot weather to unhealthful levels. While some attribute these aerosols to household cleaning products, researchers have identified a more probable cause: chemicals emitted by vegetation. Given the number of trees in LA, like the isoprene-emiting Mexican fan palm, it's likely that 25% of organic aerosols are from plants.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210323150822.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210323150822.htm
Union-friendly states enjoy higher economic growth, individual earnings
New research shows that state laws designed to hinder union activity and indulge corporate entities do not enhance economic productivity.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210323150819.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210323150819.htm
New technology allows researchers to image wetland soil activity in real time
Researchers to create a new camera allowing for the imaging of wetland soil activity in real time. This camera gives the classic IRIS (indicator of reduction in soils) technology a big upgrade, allowing researchers to visualize the soil reduction process. This technology opens up new research avenues, and gives a compelling peak at how biochemically active wetland soils really are.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210323150814.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210323150814.htm
BMI1, a promising gene to protect against Alzheimer's disease
A molecular biologist discovers a new function for BMI1, which is known to counteract brain aging.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210323150750.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210323150750.htm
Exercise boosts blood flow to the brain, study finds
It's not just your legs and heart that get a workout when you walk briskly; exercise affects your brain as well. A new study shows that when older adults with mild memory loss followed an exercise program for a year, the blood flow to their brains increased.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210323131213.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210323131213.htm
Tuesday 23 March 2021
High vitamin D levels may protect against COVID-19, especially for Black people, study suggests
In a retrospective study of individuals tested for COVID-19, vitamin D levels above those traditionally considered sufficient were associated with a lower risk of COVID-19.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210322175028.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210322175028.htm
Long-haul COVID: Physicians review what's known
With more patients complaining of lingering and chronic effects from COVID-19, experts review what's known and why care for long-haulers requires an interdisciplinary approach.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210322175018.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210322175018.htm
As more are vaccinated, it makes economic sense to gradually open the economy, study finds
Researchers conducted a data analysis that has found that as a larger portion of the population gets vaccinated against COVID-19, it becomes economically advantageous to start relaxing social distancing measures and open businesses.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210322174957.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210322174957.htm
Refining the hunt for SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater
A new study determines the best method yet for finding signs of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in municipal wastewater.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210322130145.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210322130145.htm
Study identifies concerning delays in TB diagnoses in the United States
Most delays ranged between 10 and 45 days, with a median of 24 days, after a visit to a doctor, which exceeds current World Health Organization recommendations of diagnosing and treating TB within two to three weeks of symptom onset. Delays were linked to greater risk for disease complications, transmission of infection to household members Older individuals and those with compromised immunity were at greater risk for delayed diagnoses
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210322195840.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210322195840.htm
Fans prefer teams that built success over time more than with purchased super
A new study shows people were willing to root more for the teams built over time than those assembled from free agency and deep-pocketed owners.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210322175044.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210322175044.htm
A strong coffee half an hour before exercising increases fat-burning
In the afternoon, the effects of the caffeine are more marked than in the morning.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210322175042.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210322175042.htm
Fruit fly egg takes an active hand in its own growth, highlighting parallels to mammals
Scientists discover bidirectional communication between the Drosophila oocyte and nurse cells, challenging the long-held view that the oocyte plays a passive role in development. These findings have implications for understanding development in mammals.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210322175039.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210322175039.htm
Explosive origins of 'secondary' ice and snow
Scientists publish new direct evidence that shattering drizzle droplets drive explosive 'ice multiplication' events. The findings have implications for weather forecasts, climate modeling, water supplies -- and even energy and transportation infrastructure.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210322175036.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210322175036.htm
Starving tumors by blocking glutamine uptake
Scientists have identified a drug candidate that blocks the uptake of glutamine, a key food source for many tumors, and slows the growth of melanoma.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210322175030.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210322175030.htm
What early-budding trees tell us about genetics, climate change
Late frosts have caused millions of dollars in losses for orchards over the years. Scientists are investigating the genes that tell trees when to bud out and blossom. A deep understanding of the genetics of bud-break enables scientists to modify or select crop varieties more resilient to late frost, warming winters, diseases and pests.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210322175005.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210322175005.htm
Inflammation and pressure-sensing leads to 'feed-forward' loop in osteoarthritis
An unfortunate biological 'feed-forward' loop drives cartilage cells in an arthritic joint to actually contribute to progression of the disease, say researchers. Excessive loading under inflammatory conditions can create a situation that can lead to progressive cartilage degeneration.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210322175002.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210322175002.htm
Why commercialization of carbon capture and sequestration has failed and how it can work
There are 12 essential attributes that explain why commercial carbon capture and sequestration projects succeed or fail in the U.S., researchers say.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210322174959.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210322174959.htm
Ultra-sensitive flow microsensors
A team of scientists have developed the thinnest and most sensitive flow sensor, which could have significant implications for medical research and applications, according to new research.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210322174954.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210322174954.htm
Creating a Better Market Street: Car-free Enforcement to Resume
Creating a Better Market Street: Car-free Enforcement to Resume
By Mariana Maguire
Published March 23, 2021 at 05:08AM
https://ift.tt/3f75iIe
By Mariana Maguire
It’s been over a year since Market Street went “car-free” on January 29, 2020, but shortly afterwards, the COVID-19 pandemic shut down our city and changed how people move through San Francisco. As the city begins to reopen and vehicle traffic is increasing, we are by stepping up compliance and enforcement efforts to keep Market Street car-free starting March 29, with the help of SFMTA’s Parking Control Officers (PCOs) and the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD).
Under the year-old car-free rules established as a part of Better Market Street, no private vehicles are allowed to travel along Market Street eastbound from 10th to Main streets or westbound from Steuart Street to Van Ness Avenue. Traffic is still allowed to cross Market Street, but there are no turns allowed onto the street in the car-free area. These restrictions apply to all private vehicles, including Uber, Lyft, Postmates, DoorDash, and other services whose drivers use personal vehicles without a commercial license plate.
Map: Car-free area on Market Street, implemented January 2020.
Enforcement of compliance will increase starting March 29 and will continue for about a month to help remind drivers of the restrictions. PCOs and police officers will monitor the street at various locations. PCOs will wave on vehicles attempting to turn onto Market Street within the restricted area. During the first week of the campaign the SFPD will issue warnings to drivers as we ramp up education efforts. Thereafter, they will issue citations to vehicles in violation of the car-free restrictions.
These efforts are in direct response to violations and concerns we’re heard from people that private vehicles are still driving in the car-free area. We also understand and appreciate concerns around police enforcement and we’re working hand in hand with SFPD to address those concerns.
Photo: Crew member installing new signage on Market Street in January 2020
Photo: Car-free Market Street signs limiting private vehicles from driving on Market Street east of Van Ness Avenue.
Vehicles that are still allowed to use Market Street:
- Muni and other transit service vehicles
- Taxis
- Paratransit
- Licensed commercial vehicles
- Emergency service vehicles
- Bicycles
- Scooters
Don’t get ticketed! If you’re not one of the vehicles above, don’t drive on Market Street east of Van Ness Avenue. Pay close attention to signage like those shown in the photos. If you’re using a navigation app it will route you around the car-free area.
Please help us spread the word to family, friends, neighbors and coworkers. Plan your trips accordingly. Consider alternate modes of travel if you’re going downtown. If you need to use your personal vehicle to reach destinations along Market Street, take alternate streets – they’re open!
Keep checking the COVID-19 Muni Core Service Plan website for the latest Muni service as we continue to expand and restore additional Muni rail routes which will improve transit service along Market Street.
Published March 23, 2021 at 05:08AM
https://ift.tt/3f75iIe
Monday 22 March 2021
Weekly insulin helps patients with type 2 diabetes achieve similar blood sugar control to daily insulin
A new once-weekly basal insulin injection demonstrated similar efficacy and safety and a lower rate of low blood sugar episodes compared with a daily basal insulin, according to a phase 2 clinical trial. The study results compared an investigational drug called basal insulin Fc (BIF) with insulin degludec, a commercially available long-lasting daily insulin, in patients with type 2 diabetes.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210321215440.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210321215440.htm
A promising breakthrough for a better design of electronic materials
Scientists have demonstrated the role played by molecular vibrations on electron conductivity on crystals of such materials. This finding is important for applications of these molecular materials in electronics, energy and information storage.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210319183948.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210319183948.htm
Better batteries start with basics -- and a big computer
Researchers ran quantum simulations to understand glycerol carbonate, a compound used in biodiesel and as a common solvent.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210319183945.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210319183945.htm
How our microplastic waste becomes 'hubs' for pathogens, antibiotic-resistant bacteria
Researchers have shown that ubiquitous microplastics can become 'hubs' for antibiotic-resistant bacteria and pathogens to grow once they wash down household drains and enter wastewater treatment plants -- forming a slimy layer of buildup, or biofilm, on their surface that allows pathogenic microorganisms and antibiotic waste to attach and comingle.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210319183936.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210319183936.htm
Medical cannabis can reduce essential tremor: Turns on overlooked cells in central nervous system
Medical cannabis can reduce essential tremor in mice. By injecting a specific synthetic cannabinoid into the spinal cord of mice suffering from essential tremor, researchers have shown that the drug can reduce involuntary shaking - as the cannabinoid activates a particular type of cell, the so-called astrocytes.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210319125519.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210319125519.htm
Tropical species are moving northward in U.S. as winters warm
Climate change is reducing the number of sub-freezing days over much of the American South, providing an opportunity for cold-sensitive tropical species -- mammals, reptiles, amphibians, insects, trees, shrubs and grasses -- to move northward, potentially displacing temperate species. Mosquitoes could bring infectious diseases farther north. The southern pine beetle is already moving north and devastating pine forests. While some may welcome manatees and sea turtles, few look forward to the spread of Burmese pythons.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210319125516.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210319125516.htm
New antibiotic clears multi-drug resistant gonorrhea in mice in single dose
A new antibiotic compound clears infection of multi-drug resistant gonorrhea in mice in a single oral dose, according to a new study. The compound targets a molecular pathway found in bacteria but not humans and could lead to new treatments for gonorrhea and infections from other bacteria, such as tuberculosis and MRSA.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210319125513.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210319125513.htm
Endocrine disruptors threatens semen quality
Epidemiologists analyzed the potential impact of endocrine disruptors on semen quality of men whose mothers were working at the early stages of their pregnancy. Their results show that men who have been exposed in utero to products known to contain endocrine disruptors are twice more likely to have semen volume and total sperm count per ejaculation below the reference values set by the WHO.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210319125459.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210319125459.htm
Hidden genetic defects contain real risks for serious diseases
Researchers have gained insight into the 'hidden genetic defects' of the general European population. This is important because these defects, if inherited from both father and mother, can lead to all kinds of illnesses in their children. Research in the Dutch and Estonian population shows that every person has two to four such hidden genetic defects.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210319125454.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210319125454.htm
How flashlight fish communicate with light signals in the school
Flashlight fish have the ability to generate situation-specific blink patterns resembling a visual Morse code. Researchers have shown in laboratory and field experiments that the animals use these light signals to coordinate their behavior in the school when visibility is limited. Both the light intensity and the blinking frequency affected the animals' behavior.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210319125439.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210319125439.htm
Health declining in Gen X and Gen Y, US study shows
Recent generations show a worrying decline in health compared to their parents and grandparents when they were the same age, a new national study reveals. Researchers found that, compared to previous generations, members of Generation X and Generation Y showed poorer physical health, higher levels of unhealthy behaviors such as alcohol use and smoking, and more depression and anxiety.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210319125436.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210319125436.htm
Difficulty learning nonsense words may indicate a child's high risk of dyslexia
A combined brain-scanning and behavior study has explored dyslexia in 7 & 8-year-old children learning how to read. Dyslexic youngsters were shown to have different activation in the left hemisphere compared to the control group - the area of the brain that specializes in processing language and speech. A related study by the group also found that self-confidence in reading ability helps young readers overcome some of the symptoms of dyslexia.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210319125430.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210319125430.htm
How RNA editing affects the immune system
Researchers offer new insight into how the immune system relates to cancer. A new articl looks at how an enzyme called ADAR1 operates in pathways associated with cancer.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210319125418.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210319125418.htm
Solving 'barren plateaus' is the key to quantum machine learning
Many machine learning algorithms on quantum computers suffer from the dreaded 'barren plateau' of unsolvability, where they run into dead ends on optimization problems.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210319125414.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210319125414.htm
Carbon uptake in regrowing Amazon forest threatened by climate and human disturbance
Large areas of forests regrowing in the Amazon to help reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, are being limited by climate and human activity.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210319080825.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210319080825.htm
Study shows stronger brain activity after writing on paper than on tablet or smartphone
A study of university students and recent graduates has revealed that writing on physical paper can lead to more brain activity when remembering the information an hour later. Researchers say that the unique, complex, spatial and tactile information associated with writing by hand on physical paper is likely what leads to improved memory.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210319080820.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210319080820.htm
Turns out altruism is for the fish
Through a series of prosocial choice tasks, researchers reveal prosocial and antisocial characteristics in male convict cichlid fish. The fish distinguish between female breeding partners, unknown females, and rival males by adjusting their actions to either provide food for both them and the females or avoid providing food for the rival males.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210319080817.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210319080817.htm
Research finds surprising electron interaction in 'magic-angle' graphene
New research describes a technique that weakens the repulsive force between electrons in 'magic-angle' graphene superconductors, providing physicists with exciting new details about this strange state of matter.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210318185326.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210318185326.htm
Combination therapy may provide significant protection against lethal influenza
A significant proportion of hospitalized patients with influenza develop complications of acute respiratory distress syndrome. Investigators have found that treatment with an immune receptor blocker in combination with an antiviral agent markedly improves survival of mice infected with lethal influenza and reduces lung pathology in swine-influenza-infected piglets. Their research also provides insights into the optimal timing of treatment to prevent acute lung injury.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210318170325.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210318170325.htm
Chemical cocktail creates new avenues for generating muscle stem cells
A research team has identified a chemical cocktail that enables the production of large numbers of muscle stem cells, which can self-renew and give rise to all types of skeletal muscle cells.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210318161128.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210318161128.htm
Pancreatic cancer tumors use multiple mechanisms to avoid starvation: new target for treatment?
Researchers describe how pancreatic cancer cells use an alternative method to find necessary nutrients, defying current therapies, to help them grow and spread.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210318150118.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210318150118.htm
Sunday 21 March 2021
The hidden machinery of a photosynthetic giant revealed
Photosynthesis is the fundament of almost all live on earth, and yet it is not understood down to the last detail. An international research team has now unraveled one of its secrets. The researchers have successfully isolated a rare manifestation of photosystem I and studied it in detail. The study provided new insights into the transport of light-energy in this giant photosynthetic protein complex.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210318111430.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210318111430.htm
'By-the-wind sailor' jellies wash ashore in massive numbers after warmer winters
Thanks to 20 years of observations from thousands of citizen scientists, researchers have discovered distinct patterns in the mass strandings of by-the-wind sailors, also called Velella velella. Specifically, large strandings happened simultaneously from the northwest tip of Washington south to the Mendocino coast in California, and in years when winters were warmer than usual.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210318101546.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210318101546.htm
Christmas Island reptile-killer identified
With wild populations decimated, Lister's gecko and the blue-tailed skink only exist in captivity. Researchers have discovered a bacterium, which could cause their potential extinction.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210318101541.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210318101541.htm
Muscle cramp? Drink electrolytes, not water
If you reach for water when a muscle cramp strikes, you might want to think again. New research has revealed drinking electrolytes instead of pure water can help prevent muscle cramps.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210318101536.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210318101536.htm
Saturday 20 March 2021
Friday 19 March 2021
Meng Wanzhou's lawyer accuses Canadian border officer of fabricating testimony about phone passcodes
Novel coronavirus circulated undetected months before first COVID-19 cases in Wuhan, China
Using molecular dating tools and epidemiological simulations, researchers estimate that the SARS-CoV-2 virus likely circulated undetected for two months before the first human cases of COVID-19 were described in Wuhan, China in late-December 2019.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210318185328.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210318185328.htm
Thursday 18 March 2021
Wednesday 17 March 2021
How life on land recovered after 'The Great Dying'
A new study shows in detail how life recovered from 'The Great Dying' in comparison to two smaller extinction events. The international study team showed for the first time that this mass extinction was harsher than other events due to a major collapse in diversity. Ultimately, characterizing communities -- especially those that recovered successfully -- provides valuable insights into how modern species might fare as humans push the planet to the brink.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210316214645.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210316214645.htm
Non-DNA mechanism is involved in transmitting paternal experience to offspring
A new study has made a significant advance in the field of epigenetics by identifying how environmental information is transmitted by non-DNA molecules in the sperm. It is a discovery that advances scientific understanding of the heredity of paternal life experiences and potentially opens new avenues for studying disease transmission and prevention.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210316132129.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210316132129.htm
Not just CO2: Rising temperatures also alter photosynthesis in a changing climate
A new review explores how higher temperatures influence plant growth and viability despite higher concentrations of atmospheric CO2.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210316112306.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210316112306.htm
Controlling sloshing motions in sea-based fish farming cages improves fish welfare
Sea-based fish farming systems using net pens are hard on the environment and fish. A closed cage can improve fish welfare, but seawater must be continuously circulated through the cage. However, waves can cause the water to slosh inside the cage, creating violent motions and endangering the cage and fish. A study using a scale-model containment system shows why violent sloshing motions arise and how to minimize them.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210316112303.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210316112303.htm
Brain disease research reveals differences between sexes
Scientists highlight a growing body of research suggesting sex differences play roles in how patients respond to brain diseases, as well as multiple sclerosis, motor neuron disease, and other brain ailments. They are urging their colleagues to remember those differences when researching treatments and cures.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210316112249.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210316112249.htm
Catching electrons in action in an antiferromagnetic nanowire
The electron is one of the fundamental particles in nature we read about in school. Its behavior holds clues to new ways to store digital data. A new study explores alternative materials to improve capacity and shrink the size of digital data storage technologies. Specifically, the team found that chromium-doped nanowires with a germanium core and silicon shell can be an antiferromagnetic semiconductor.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210316183648.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210316183648.htm
Researchers discover how 'cryptic species' respond differently to coral bleaching
Researchers used molecular genetics to differentiate among corals that look nearly identical and to understand which species best coped with thermal stress.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210316183645.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210316183645.htm
The potential economic impact of volcano alerts
A new study suggests that, when a Volcano Alert remains elevated at any level above 'normal' due to a period of volcanic unrest, it can cause a decline in the region's housing prices and other economic indicators. The authors argue that federal policymakers may need to account for the effects of prolonged volcanic unrest -- not just destructive eruptions -- in the provision of disaster relief funding.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210316183643.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210316183643.htm
Picking up a book for fun positively affects verbal abilities
A new study shows that the more people read any kind of fiction the better their language skills are likely to be. Researchers found that people who enjoyed reading fiction for leisure and who identified as a reader scored higher on language tests, whereas those who read to access specific information scored more poorly on the same tests.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210316165011.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210316165011.htm
Jupiter's 'dawn storm' auroras are surprisingly Earth-like
The midnight births of the dramatic bright surges in Jupiter's aurora known as dawn storms are captured in a new study of data from the Juno space probe.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210316165023.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210316165023.htm
Muni and SamTrans Partner on Lake Merced Bus Service
Muni and SamTrans Partner on Lake Merced Bus Service
By Enrique Aguilar
Published March 17, 2021 at 04:53AM
https://ift.tt/3cAsfAG
By Enrique Aguilar
Starting March 22, a new program will provide free access to SamTrans Route 122 within San Francisco between Lake Merced Boulevard and Lake Merced Hill. The SFMTA has teamed up with SamTrans to launch this pilot program, which allows residents to sign up to use the 122 while Muni service is limited due to COVID-19.
After applying to the program, customers will be sent an email with a MuniMobile pass link that will be valid for six months. There will be an opportunity to extend the pass if the program is still needed after that, pending the return of Muni’s 57 Parkmerced.
Map of new SamTrans stops in the Lake Merced neighborhood
The SFMTA will post signs at the new bus stop locations and at essential destinations including grocery stores near Stonestown Galleria Shopping Center in order to inform community members about this free pilot program. For more information and to apply, visit the Samtrans Route 122 application page.
Published March 17, 2021 at 04:53AM
https://ift.tt/3cAsfAG
Tuesday 16 March 2021
Tweens and TV: 50-year survey reveals the values kids learn from popular shows
A new report assesses the values emphasized by television programs popular with tweens over each decade from 1967 to 2017, charting how 16 values have waxed and waned during those 50 years. How important is fame? Self-acceptance? Among the findings: Fame, after nearly 40 years of ranking near the bottom (it was 15th in 1967, 1987 and 1997), rose to the No. 1 value in 2007, then dropped to sixth in 2017.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210315180617.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210315180617.htm
Blight may increase public health risk from mosquito-borne diseases
Researchers published findings that blight leads to an increased abundance of disease-carrying mosquitoes. The researchers investigated the presence of several mosquito species in two adjacent but socio-economically contrasting neighborhoods in Baton Rouge: the historic Garden District, a high-income neighborhood, and the Old South neighborhood, a low-income area.
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210315180614.htm
source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210315180614.htm
