Science News
The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone is on fire and radiation levels are spiking
Live Science - 9 Apr 2020 14:18
A forest fire caused a radiation spike in the Chernobyl region, but that elevated radiation has not reached nearby, populated areas.
Do face masks work against the coronavirus and should you wear one?
New Scientist - 9 Apr 2020 12:00
The advice on widespread face mask use to protect against covid-19 varies wildly, but there is some evidence that they stop sick people spreading the virus
Coronavirus Is a Once in a Lifetime Chance to Reshape How We Travel
Singularity Hub - 9 Apr 2020 16:00
The transport sector has been impacted as much as any by the coronavirus. This isn't a normal period of disruption, which is usually caused by failures in supply such as road accidents or industrial action. In this case ...
New study shows how oxygen transfer is altered in diseased lung tissue
Science Daily - 9 Apr 2020 20:16
A multidisciplinary team of researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has developed tiny sensors that measure oxygen transport in bovine lung tissue. The study -- which establishes a new framework for...
Broad spectrum: Novel hybrid material proves an efficient photodetector
Phys.org - 9 Apr 2020 17:04
Digital cameras as well as many other electronic devices need light-sensitive sensors. In order to cater to the increasing demand for optoelectronic components of this kind, industry is searching for new semiconductor ma...
X-ray vision through the water window
Phys.org - 9 Apr 2020 14:08
Physicists at ETH Zurich have developed the first high-repetition-rate laser source that produces coherent soft X-rays spanning the entire "water window." That technological breakthrough could enable a broad range of stu...
Now metal surfaces can be instant bacteria killers
Science Daily - 9 Apr 2020 22:23
Engineers have created a laser treatment method that could potentially turn any metal surface into a rapid bacteria killer -- just by giving the metal's surface a different texture.
False-negative COVID-19 test results may lead to false sense of security
Science Daily - 9 Apr 2020 20:48
A new article calls attention to the risk posed by overreliance on COVID-19 testing to make clinical and public health decisions. The sensitivity of reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing and ov...
Guidance on treating COVID-19 patients with signs of acute heart attack
Science Daily - 9 Apr 2020 20:48
Much remains unknown about COVID-19, but many studies already have indicated that people with cardiovascular disease are at greater risk of COVID-19. There also have been reports of ST-segment elevation (STE), a signal o...
Making sense of scents: 3D videos reveal how the nose detects odor combinations
Science Daily - 9 Apr 2020 20:15
Every moment of the day we are surrounded by smells. Odors can bring back memories, or quickly warn us that food has gone bad. But how does our brain identify so many different odors? And how easily can we untangle the i...
Scientists discover six new coronaviruses in bats
Science Daily - 9 Apr 2020 20:14
Researchers have discovered six new coronaviruses in bats in Myanmar -- the first time these viruses have been detected anywhere in the world. Future studies will evaluate the potential for transmission across species to...
Ear's inner secrets revealed with new technology
Science Daily - 9 Apr 2020 20:00
What does it actually look like deep inside our ears? This has been very difficult to study as the inner ear is protected by the hardest bone in the body. But with the help of synchrotron X-rays, it is now possible to de...
How silver ions kill bacteria
Science Daily - 9 Apr 2020 20:00
The antimicrobial properties of silver have been known for centuries. Now scientists are seeking to better understand how the noble metal kills bacteria to help combat antiobiotic-resistant 'superbugs.'
Global trial fast tracks testing of hydroxychloroquine, other COVID-19 therapies
Science Daily - 9 Apr 2020 20:00
A novel 'learning while doing' clinical trial approach called REMAP helps doctors find the optimal trade-off between quickly adopting new therapies during a pandemic, such as the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine, an...
Optical imaging technology may help surgeons better treat cancer, brain diseases
Science Daily - 9 Apr 2020 17:31
Researchers created technology that uses optical imaging to better help surgeons map out tumors in the body and help them understand how certain diseases affect activity in the brain.
Rare, damaging inherited mutations work together to reduce lifespan
Science Daily - 9 Apr 2020 17:31
Scientists report that the combined effects of rare, damaging mutations present at birth have a negative impact on healthspan and longevity.
Time to encourage people to wear face masks as a precaution, say experts
Science Daily - 9 Apr 2020 16:54
It's time to encourage people to wear face masks as a precautionary measure on the grounds that we have little to lose and potentially something to gain, say experts in The BMJ today.
Newly emerged enterovirus-A71 C4 isolates may be more virulent than B5 in northern Vietnam
Science Daily - 9 Apr 2020 16:03
Researcher have found a new sublineage of enterovirus A71 (EV-A71) C4 subgenotype with two possible recombinant strains during the 2015-16 outbreak of hand-foot-and-mouth disease in Hanoi, northern Vietnam. Further, they...
Critical protein in cancer treatment-related heart damage
Science Daily - 9 Apr 2020 16:03
Researchers showed that a protein named FOXO1 plays a critical role in heart damage resulting from treatment with anthracycline chemotherapy drugs. Using a rodent model, they also demonstrated that suppressing FOXO1 thro...
Missing BAP1 gene associated with immunosuppressive molecules in uveal melanoma
Science Daily - 9 Apr 2020 15:39
A new study reveals that tumors lacking a protein called BAP1 have an ineffective immune reaction against cancer, thus rendering immunotherapies ineffectual, particularly in uveal melanomas (UM). The researchers also dis...
First in-human study of drug targeting brain inflammation supports further development
Science Daily - 9 Apr 2020 15:39
MW189 blocks abnormal inflammation in the brain that is known to contribute to injury- and disease-induced neurologic impairments in a number of acute and chronic brain disorders. This study examined MW189 in healthy adu...
Discovery of a novel function for MAP2 in synaptic strengthening
Science Daily - 9 Apr 2020 15:39
The research team discovered a new role for MAP2 in the synaptic potentiation process and expects to provide key insights into synaptic dysfunction in brain diseases.