Science News
The weak force--life couldn't exist without it
Phys.org - 15 Nov 2018 15:43
David Armstrong studies a phenomenon that is ubiquitous in nature, yet only a few non-scientists know what it is.
The Philippines wants big companies to accept responsibility for a devastating typhoon
The Economist - 15 Nov 2018 17:49
Picking up the pieces "IAGONISE WAITING for the word for the fate of my very own relatives... I speak for the countless people who will no longer be able to speak for themselves after perishing from the storm." With thes...
Why Scientists Are Rushing to Catalog the World's Poop
Singularity Hub - 15 Nov 2018 17:00
If a group of scientists is successful, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault will be getting a cousin--one that may initially sound rather strange. Instead of gathering seeds to preserve plant species, this project involves ga...
Scientists provide first-ever views of elusive energy explosion
Phys.org - 15 Nov 2018 22:15
Researchers at the University of New Hampshire have captured a difficult-to-view singular event involving "magnetic reconnection"--the process by which sparse particles and energy around Earth collide producing a quick b...
Neuroimaging Study Challenges Dominant Theoretical Model of ASD
Neuroscience News - 15 Nov 2018 21:54
A new study reports short distance connectivity abnormalities may be involved in social cognitive deficits in those with ASD.
How Sperm Find Their Way
Neuroscience News - 15 Nov 2018 21:51
Researchers have identified a specific protein in the cell membranes of sperm that help them navigate their way to the egg for fertilization.
Seeing and Smelling Food Prepares the Liver for Digestion: Mouse Study
Neuroscience News - 15 Nov 2018 21:48
Researchers say the sight and smell of food alone may be enough to prompt the liver to start the processes that help digest food.
Scorpion Venom to Shuttle Drugs Into the Brain
Neuroscience News - 15 Nov 2018 21:39
Researchers detail how cholortoxin, a peptide in scorpion venom, can cross the blood-brain barrier for drug delivery.
These Fluid-Filled Tiles Could Help Keep the Buildings of the Future Cool
Physics Buzz - 15 Nov 2018 20:58
Sunlight is the power source for nearly all life on Earth, but it can be destructive, too. When too much radiation--particularly the heat rays of the near-infrared--hits manmade structures, it can cause them to overheat,...
Migraines that Affect Vision May Increase Risk of Irregular Heartbeat
Neuroscience News - 15 Nov 2018 19:43
A new study reports people who experience migraines with visual auras are at increased risk of atrial fibrillation.
Gut Hormone and Brown Fat Interact to Tell the Brain It's Time to Stop Eating
Neuroscience News - 15 Nov 2018 19:40
A new study reports brown fat interacts with secretin, a gut hormone, to signal the feeling of fullness to the brain while eating.
Making Moves and Memories: Are They Connected?
Neuroscience News - 15 Nov 2018 19:36
Researchers have identified a new role for the cerebellum. Rather than just helping to control muscle activity, the cerebellum may also play a critical role in cognitive functions.
Catching up on sleep at weekends may aggravate period pain
New Scientist - 15 Nov 2018 19:00
Getting up early on weekdays and sleeping in on weekends to compensate may cause period pain by disrupting the circadian rhythms that control hormone cycles
Why We Shouldn't Like Coffee, But We Do
Neuroscience News - 15 Nov 2018 17:56
Researchers question why many of us are unable to live without our daily cup of coffee. According to a new study, bitter tastes are a natural warning system to protect the body from harmful substances, yet people with he...
The kilogram and three other metric units are about to be revamped
The Economist - 15 Nov 2018 17:49
THROUGHOUT MUCH of human history, man has been the measure of many, if not all, things. Lengths were divided up into feet, palms, spans and smaller units derived from the human hand. Other measures were equally idiosyncr...
The Swiss invent a novel watch spring
The Economist - 15 Nov 2018 17:49
The mechanical side of time DIGITAL ELECTRONICS has transformed many consumer-goods industries, but analogue niches survive and even thrive. Vinyl records have staged a comeback, sales of printed books have been growing ...
A newly discovered tea plant is caffeine-free
The Economist - 15 Nov 2018 17:49
THE WORLD loves a cuppa. Even though it takes just a few grams for a brew-up, some 3m tonnes of tea are consumed every year. And tea can be good for you, as it contains compounds that help to lower cholesterol and reduce...
Fullerene compounds made simulation-ready
Phys.org - 15 Nov 2018 17:38
What in the smart nanomaterials world is widely available, highly symmetrical and inexpensive? Hollow carbon structures, shaped like a football, called fullerenes. Their applications range from artificial photosynthesis ...
How Quantum Computing is Enabling Breakthroughs in Chemistry
Singularity Hub - 15 Nov 2018 17:30
Quantum computing is expected to solve computational questions that cannot be addressed by existing classical computing methods. It is now accepted that the very first discipline that will be greatly advanced by quantum ...
Web tracker can follow you for months even if you delete your cookies
New Scientist - 15 Nov 2018 17:00
This internet tracker can follow your browsing for months even if you use ad blockers, by measuring variations in the quartz crystals in your device's clock
Terahertz laser pulses amplify optical phonons in solids
Phys.org - 15 Nov 2018 16:50
A study led by scientists of the Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter (MPSD) at the Center for Free-Electron Laser Science in Hamburg/Germany presents evidence of the amplification of optical pho...
Designer emulsions
Phys.org - 15 Nov 2018 16:20
ETH material researchers are developing a method with which they can coat droplets with controlled interfacial composition and coverage on demand in an emulsion in order to stabilise them. In doing so they are fulfilling...