Science News
3 Major Materials Science Breakthroughs--and Why They Matter for the Future
Singularity Hub - 21 May 2020 16:00
Few recognize the vast implications of materials science. To build today's smartphone in the 1980s, it would cost about $110 million, require nearly 200 kilowatts of energy (compared to 2kW per year today), and the devic...
Scientists unravel challenge in improving fusion performance
Phys.org - 21 May 2020 15:51
A team at the DIII-D National Fusion Facility led by a William & Mary physicist has made a significant advancement in physics understanding that represents a key step toward practical fusion energy.
Preventing 'cytokine storm' may ease severe COVID-19 symptoms
Science Daily - 21 May 2020 22:57
A clinical trial in people with the new coronavirus is testing a drug that may halt an overactive immune response before it ramps up.
Scientists identify chemicals in noxious weed that 'disarm' deadly bacteria
Science Daily - 21 May 2020 21:18
Scientists have identified specific compounds from the Brazilian peppertree -- a weedy, invasive shrub in Florida -- that reduce the virulence of antibiotic-resistant staph bacteria. This research demonstrates that trite...
Brain's 'updating mechanisms' may create false memories
Science Daily - 21 May 2020 21:18
New research is one of the first comprehensive characterizations of poorly formed memories and may offer a framework to explore different therapeutic approaches to fear, memory and anxiety disorders. It may also have imp...
Measuring blood damage
Science Daily - 21 May 2020 18:46
Red blood cells sometimes rupture when blood is sent through faulty equipment, such as a dialysis machine. This is called hemolysis. Hemolysis also can occur during blood work when blood is drawn too quickly through a ne...
Implantable biosensor operates without batteries
Science Daily - 21 May 2020 17:56
Researchers have revealed their new biodegradable motion sensor -- paving the way for implanted nanotechnology that could help future sports professionals better monitor their movements to aid rapid improvements, or help...
Adding a blend of spices to a meal may help lower inflammation
Science Daily - 21 May 2020 17:56
Researchers found that adding six grams of spices to a meal high in fat and carbohydrates resulted in lower inflammation markers hours later.
Scientists identify gene linked to thinness that may help resist weight gain
Science Daily - 21 May 2020 17:26
Researchers used a genetic database of more than 47,000 people in Estonia to identify a gene linked to thinness that may play a role in resisting weight gain in metabolically healthy thin people. They show that knocking ...
A 'switch' that turns autoimmunity drugs into powerful anti-cancer treatments
Science Daily - 21 May 2020 17:26
Scientists have discovered a way to transform antibody drugs previously developed to treat autoimmunity into antibodies with powerful anti-cancer activity through a simple molecular 'switch'.
Environmental contaminants alter gut microbiome, health
Science Daily - 21 May 2020 17:26
The microbes that inhabit our bodies are influenced by what we eat, drink, breathe and absorb through our skin, and most of us are chronically exposed to natural and human-made environmental contaminants. Scientists revi...
Genetic barcodes can ensure authentic DNA fingerprints
Science Daily - 21 May 2020 17:25
Engineers have demonstrated a method for ensuring that an increasingly popular method of genetic identification called ''DNA fingerprinting'' remains secure against inadvertent mistakes or malicious attacks in the field....
Sex bias in pain research
Science Daily - 21 May 2020 17:25
Most pain research remains overwhelmingly based on the study of male rodents, continuing to test hypotheses derived from earlier experiments on males. This points to an important blind spot in pain research, particularly...
Scientists find evidence of link between diesel exhaust, risk of Parkinson's
Science Daily - 21 May 2020 16:21
A new study in zebrafish identified the process by which air pollution can damage brain cells, potentially contributing to Parkinson's disease.
The self-synthesizing ribosome
Science Daily - 21 May 2020 16:20
As the cell's protein factory, the ribosome is the only natural machine that manufactures its own parts. That is why understanding how the machine, itself, is made, could unlock the door to everything from understanding ...
Unconscious: 'Sniff test' predicts recovery of consciousness
Science Daily - 21 May 2020 16:19
If an unconscious person responds to smell through a slight change in their nasal airflow pattern -- they are likely to regain consciousness. This is the conclusion from a new study.
Capturing the coordinated dance between electrons and nuclei in a light-excited molecule
Phys.org - 21 May 2020 21:54
Using a high-speed "electron camera" at the Department of Energy's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, scientists have simultaneously captured the movements of electrons and nuclei in a molecule after it was excited wi...
Giant tectonic plate under Indian Ocean is breaking in two
Live Science - 21 May 2020 21:10
The India-Australia-Capricorn plate is breaking up at a rate of about 2 millimeters a year.
Bees force plants to flower early by cutting holes in their leaves
New Scientist - 21 May 2020 21:00
Hungry bumblebees can make plants flower up to a month earlier than usual by cutting holes in their leaves, which may help them adapt to climate change
Exercise improves memory and boosts blood flow to brain
Neuroscience News - 21 May 2020 20:38
Following a one year program of aerobic exercise improves memory function and boosts blood flow to brain areas critical for cognition in older adults with risk factors for dementia.
Mysterious inflammatory syndrome tied to COVID-19 is showing up in adults in their early 20s
Live Science - 21 May 2020 20:36
A mysterious inflammatory syndrome tied to COVID-19 that has been reported in children is now also turning up in young adults in their early 20s.
Hearts that drum together beat together
Neuroscience News - 21 May 2020 20:23
Drumming in a group stimulates behavioral and physiological synchronization, which contributes to the formation of social bonds and the ability to cooperate.