Science News
Attribution of extreme weather events in the context of climate change -- new report
EurekAlert! - 11 Mar 2016 09:00
(National Academy of Sciences) It is now possible to estimate the influence of climate change on some types of extreme events, such as heat waves, drought, and heavy precipitation, says a new report from the National Aca...
Virus common among livestock depends on a micro-RNA to replicate
Science Daily - 11 Mar 2016 21:50
Increasingly, scientists are finding that small RNA molecules might be effective targets for antiviral drugs. Using a new screening method, researchers now show that a number of RNA viruses need access to micro-RNAs prod...
Physics pair show that Ising model can be used as a universal spin model
Phys.org - 11 Mar 2016 17:30
(Phys.org)--A pair of physicists has shown that it is possible to transform disparate spin models into different types of just one simple model. In their paper published in the journal Science, Gemma De las Cuevas, with ...
Parents of premature babies get confidence boost from home-from-hospital project
Science Daily - 11 Mar 2016 21:50
New parents benefit from help to prepare them to bring their premature babies home from hospital, researchers have found. A team examined the effects of a parent-orientated discharge planning process, known as the Train-...
Early detection: Colorectal cancer rates declining in Germany
Science Daily - 11 Mar 2016 19:56
The introduction of screening colonoscopy in Germany is showing results: Within ten years of the start of this screening program for the early detection of colorectal cancer, the number of new cases has significantly dro...
Practicing tai chi reduces risk of falling in older adults
Science Daily - 12 Mar 2016 00:01
Researchers have compared the effects of tai chi to leg strengthening exercises (a physical therapy called 'lower extremity training,' or LET) in reducing falls. After six months of training, people in the tai chi group ...
Quality control for genetic sequencing
Science Daily - 12 Mar 2016 00:01
Genetic sequencing is in widespread use today, but until now has not been accurate enough to identify an antibody immune response. Now, thanks to a new control system based on genetic barcodes, the technique is far more ...
Magnetic chips could dramatically increase computing's energy efficiency, experiment shows
Science Daily - 12 Mar 2016 00:01
Magnetic bits operating at one-millionth the energy of today's chips, say researchers.
Double cheeseburger and a diet soda, please
Science Daily - 11 Mar 2016 23:18
While more consumers than ever are making healthier choices at the grocery store, they tend to purchase a balance of healthy and less-healthy foods, according to new research.
Citizen science project draws up first oral microbiome map for the youth of Spain
Science Daily - 11 Mar 2016 22:32
Preliminary results of a new project have brought bioinformatics closer to society, and highlighted the importance of the microbiome, with the participation of over 4,000 individuals. The results of the scientific study ...
Differential immuno-capture biochip offers specific leukocyte counting for HIV diagnosis
Science Daily - 11 Mar 2016 22:32
A highly sensitive biosensor based on a differential immuno-capture technology can detect sub-populations of white blood cells, scientists report. As part of a small, disposable biochip, the microfluidic biosensor can co...
Change in mosquito mating may control Zika virus
Science Daily - 11 Mar 2016 22:32
Genetic cues from male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes passed on during sex affect which genes are turned on or off in a females' reproductive tract post-mating, including genes related to blood feeding, egg development and imm...
The dangers, risks of binge drinking
Science Daily - 11 Mar 2016 21:53
Experts take an in-depth look into a favorite college pastime -- binge drinking -- by understanding the dangers and risks of alcohol. Moderate drinking is defined as no more than one drink per day for women and no more t...
Functional heart muscle regenerated in decellularized human hearts
Science Daily - 11 Mar 2016 20:07
Researchers have taken some initial steps toward the creation of bioengineered human hearts using donor hearts stripped of components that would generate an immune response and cardiac muscle cells generated from induced...
CPAP may not improve glycemic control in people with diabetes
Science Daily - 11 Mar 2016 19:57
People with type 2 diabetes and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may not experience improved glycemic control by using continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP, as some studies have suggested, according to the results o...
If you treat a parent's depression, will their child's asthma improve?
Science Daily - 11 Mar 2016 19:57
A new study is underway to determine whether treating a depressed caregiver will improve the child's asthma. The researchers say the findings eventually may reduce health disparities in child asthma because there is a hi...
Unpacking space radiation to control astronaut, earthbound cancer risk
Science Daily - 11 Mar 2016 19:55
Personalizing the assessment of cancer risk due to space radiation may let NASA pinpoint astronauts who could withstand higher doses, removing one barrier to a trip to Mars.
Skin has the nerve to tell you to scratch
Science Daily - 11 Mar 2016 19:55
A potential drug target for itching sensations has been developed by researchers. Their work shows that skin cells -- when exposed to certain itch-producing chemicals -- can powerfully regulate nearby sensory nerve cells...
Touting 'naturalness' of breastfeeding could backfire, experts warn
Science Daily - 11 Mar 2016 19:54
Breastfeeding campaigns that extol breastfeeding as the 'natural' way to feed infants could result in harmful decision-making by some parents on other important health matters, according to experts, who warn that promoti...
Lack of TRPV2 impairs thermogenesis in mouse brown adipose tissue
Science Daily - 11 Mar 2016 19:52
Brown adipose tissue (BAT), a major site for mammalian non-shivering thermogenesis, could be a target for prevention and treatment of human obesity. Transient receptor potential vanilloid 2 (TRPV2), a Ca2+-permeable cati...
INRS takes giant step forward in generating optical qubits
e! Science News - 11 Mar 2016 17:26
The optical chip developed at INRS by Prof. Roberto Morandotti's team overcomes a number of obstacles in the development of quantum computers, which are expected to revolutionize information processing. The international...
Protected Majorana states for quantum information
e! Science News - 12 Mar 2016 01:53
Quantum technology has the potential to revolutionize computation, cryptography, and simulation of quantum systems. However, quantum physics places a new demand on information processing hardware: quantum states are frag...