r The Story of Charles Willson Peale’s Massive Mastodon By www.smithsonianmag.com Published On :: Wed, 06 May 2020 14:44:06 +0000 When a European intellectual snubbed the U.S., the well-known artist excavated the giant fossil as evidence of the new Republic’s strength and power Full Article
r Possible vaccine for virus linked to type 1 diabetes By www.sciencedaily.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 10:24:36 EDT According to many observations, certain virus infections may play a part in the autoimmune attack that leads to type 1 diabetes. Researchers have now produced a vaccine for these viruses in the hope that it could provide protection against the disease. Full Article
r Plasma electrons can be used to produce metallic films By www.sciencedaily.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 10:36:40 EDT Computers, mobile phones and all other electronic devices contain thousands of transistors, linked together by thin films of metal. Scientists have developed a method that can use the electrons in a plasma to produce these films. Full Article
r Repurposing existing drugs for COVID-19 offers a more rapid alternative to a vaccine By www.sciencedaily.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 10:36:41 EDT Repurposing existing medicines focused on known drug targets is likely to offer a more rapid hope of tackling COVID-19 than developing and manufacturing a vaccine, argue an international team of scientists. Full Article
r Global trade in soy has major implications for climate By www.sciencedaily.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 10:44:46 EDT The extent to which Brazilian soy production and trade contribute to climate change depends largely on the location where soybeans are grown, according to a new study. In some municipalities, carbon dioxide emissions resulting from the export of soybean and derivatives are more than 200 times higher than in others. Full Article
r A closer look at superconductors By www.sciencedaily.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 10:44:48 EDT High-temperature superconductors have the potential to revolutionize today's technologies. 'Higgs spectroscopy' could bring about a watershed as it reveals the dynamics of paired electrons in superconductors. Remarkably, the dynamics also reveal typical precursors of superconductivity even above the critical temperature at which the materials investigated attain superconductivity. Full Article
r Vitamin D levels appear to play role in COVID-19 mortality rates By www.sciencedaily.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 12:13:53 EDT Researchers analyzed patient data from 10 countries. The team found a correlation between low vitamin D levels and hyperactive immune systems. Vitamin D strengths innate immunity and prevents overactive immune responses. The finding could explain several mysteries, including why children are unlikely to die from COVID-19. Full Article
r A billion years missing from geologic record: Where it may have gone By www.sciencedaily.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 13:07:04 EDT The geologic record is exactly that: a record. The strata of rock tell scientists about past environments, much like pages in an encyclopedia. Except this reference book has more pages missing than it has remaining. So geologists are tasked not only with understanding what is there, but also with figuring out what's not, and where it went. Full Article
r 2D oxide flakes pick up surprise electrical properties By www.sciencedaily.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 13:07:08 EDT Researchers find evidence of piezoelectricity in lab-grown, two-dimensional flakes of molybdenum dioxide. Full Article
r Accurate 3D imaging of sperm cells moving at top speed could improve IVF treatments By www.sciencedaily.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 13:07:15 EDT Researchers have developed a safe and accurate 3D imaging method to identify sperm cells moving at a high speed. The new method has the potential to significantly improve IVF treatments. Full Article
r Benthos in the Antarctic Weddell Sea in decline By www.sciencedaily.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 13:07:17 EDT Over the past quarter-century, changes in Antarctic sea-ice cover have had profound impacts on life on the ocean floor. Full Article
r Highly efficient hydrogen gas production using sunlight, water and hematite By www.sciencedaily.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 13:08:51 EDT Hydrogen is a possible next generation energy solution, and it can be produced from sunlight and water using photocatalysts. A research group has now developed a strategy that greatly increases the amount of hydrogen produced using hematite photocatalysts. In addition to boosting the high efficiency of what is thought to be the world's highest performing photoanode, this strategy will be applied to artificial photosynthesis and solar water-splitting technologies via university-industry collaborations. Full Article
r Variance in tree species results in the cleanest urban air By www.sciencedaily.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 13:10:05 EDT What kind of an effect do trees have on aerosol particle concentrations in cities? Modelling carried out at the University of Helsinki revealed that the air was cleanest on the street level with three rows of trees of variable height situated along boulevard-type city street canyons. Full Article
r Vitamin D linked to low virus death rate, study finds By www.sciencedaily.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 13:10:12 EDT A new study has found an association between low average levels of vitamin D and high numbers of COVID-19 cases and mortality rates across 20 European countries. Full Article
r Beer was here! A new microstructural marker for malting in the archaeological record By www.sciencedaily.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 13:12:23 EDT A new method for reliably identifying the presence of beer or other malted foodstuffs in archaeological finds is described in a new study. Full Article
r See a 3D mouse brain with single-cell resolution By www.sciencedaily.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 13:13:09 EDT A manually constructed 3D atlas offers a cellular-level view of the entire mouse brain. This reference brain, called the Allen Mouse Brain Common Coordinate Framework (CCFv3), is derived from serial two-photon tomography images of 1,675 mice. Full Article
r The feeling a limb doesn't belong is linked to lack of brain structure and connection By www.sciencedaily.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 13:13:11 EDT People with body integrity dysphoria (BID) often feel as though one of their healthy limbs isn't meant to be a part of their bodies. They may act as though the limb is missing or even seek its amputation 'to feel complete.' Now, researchers have found that these feelings that a limb doesn't belong are mirrored in the brains of people with this condition. Full Article
r New simple method for measuring the state of lithium-ion batteries By www.sciencedaily.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 13:13:16 EDT Scientists have presented a non-contact method for detecting the state of charge and any defects in lithium-ion batteries. Full Article
r Virgin birth has scientists buzzing By www.sciencedaily.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 13:13:27 EDT Researchers have identified the single gene that determines how Cape honey bees reproduce without ever having sex. One gene, GB45239 on chromosome 11, is responsible for virgin births. Full Article
r A role reversal for the function of certain circadian network neurons By www.sciencedaily.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 13:13:32 EDT A new study y reveals surprising findings about the function of circadian network neurons that undergo daily structural change. The research could lead to a better understanding of how to address circadian rhythm disruptions in humans and facilitate preventing a host of associated health problems, including increased risk for cancer and metabolic syndrome. Full Article
r Lipid metabolism controls brain development By www.sciencedaily.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 13:13:34 EDT A lipid metabolism enzyme controls brain stem cell activity and lifelong brain development. If the enzyme does not work correctly, it causes learning and memory deficits in humans and mice, as researchers have discovered. Regulating stem cell activity via lipid metabolism could lead to new treatments for brain diseases. Full Article
r Light, sound, action: Extending the life of acoustic waves on microchips By www.sciencedaily.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 13:13:38 EDT Data centres and digital information processors are reaching their capacity limits and producing heat. Foundational work here on optical-acoustic microchips opens door to low-heat, low-energy, fast internet. Full Article
r Immunity of recovered COVID-19 patients could cut risk of expanding economic activity By www.sciencedaily.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 13:53:55 EDT New modeling of coronavirus behavior suggests that an intervention strategy based on shield immunity could reduce the risk of allowing the higher levels of human interaction needed to support expanded economic activity. Full Article
r Planting trees is no panacea for climate change By www.sciencedaily.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 14:30:08 EDT A restoration ecologist has a simple message for anyone who thinks planting 1 trillion trees will reverse the damage of climate change: 'We can't plant our way out of climate change.' Full Article
r Revealing links between education and a good diet By www.sciencedaily.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 14:30:20 EDT Educational status appears to have positive influence on a healthy diet, particularly in low income countries, according to new research examining European nutritional data. Full Article
r Laser loop couples quantum systems over a distance By www.sciencedaily.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 14:30:39 EDT For the first time, researchers have succeeded in creating strong coupling between quantum systems over a greater distance. They accomplished this with a novel method in which a laser loop connects the systems, enabling nearly lossless exchange of information and strong interaction between them. The physicists reported that the new method opens up new possibilities in quantum networks and quantum sensor technology. Full Article
r Physicists shed light on the nanoscale dynamics of spin thermalization By www.sciencedaily.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 16:39:57 EDT In physics, thermalization, or the trend of sub-systems within a whole to gain a common temperature, is typically the norm. There are situations, however, where thermalization is slowed down or virtually suppressed; examples are when considering the dynamics of electron and nuclear spins in solids. Understanding why this happens and how it can be controlled is presently at the center of a broad effort, particularly for applications in the emerging field of quantum information technologies. Full Article
r Telescopes and spacecraft join forces to probe deep into Jupiter's atmosphere By www.sciencedaily.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 16:39:59 EDT NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and the ground-based Gemini Observatory in Hawaii have teamed up with the Juno spacecraft to probe the mightiest storms in the solar system, taking place more than 500 million miles away on the giant planet Jupiter. Full Article
r Key mechanism of cytokine storm in Castleman disease By www.sciencedaily.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 16:40:01 EDT Researchers discover what is happening at the cellular level when Castleman patients experience a cytokine storm. Full Article
r Olanzapine may help control nausea, vomiting in patients with advanced cancer By www.sciencedaily.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 16:40:05 EDT Olanzapine, a generic drug used to treat nervous, emotional and mental conditions, also may help patients with advanced cancer successfully manage nausea and vomiting unrelated to chemotherapy. Full Article
r Prediction tool shows how forest thinning may increase Sierra Nevada snowpack By www.sciencedaily.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 16:40:07 EDT Thinning the Sierra Nevada forest by removing trees by hand or using heavy machinery is one of the few tools available to manage forests. However, finding the best way to thin forests by removing select trees to maximize the forest's benefits for water quantity, water quality, wildfire risk and wildlife habitat remains a challenge for resource managers. Full Article
r Blood thinners may improve survival among hospitalized COVID-19 patients By www.sciencedaily.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 19:49:07 EDT Treating hospitalized COVID-19 patients with anticoagulants -- blood thinners that slow down clotting -- may improve their chances of survival, researchers report. The study could provide new insight on how to treat and manage coronavirus patients once they are admitted to the hospital. Full Article
r First simulation of a full-sized mitochondrial membrane By www.sciencedaily.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 08:35:37 EDT Scientists have developed a method that combines different resolution levels in a computer simulation of biological membranes. Their algorithm backmaps a large-scale model that includes features, such as membrane curvature, to its corresponding coarse-grained molecular model. This has allowed them to zoom in on toxin-induced membrane budding and to simulate a full-sized mitochondrial lipid membrane. Their approach opens the way to whole-cell simulations at a molecular level. Full Article
r Computer vision helps scientists study lithium ion batteries By www.sciencedaily.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 08:35:42 EDT New machine learning methods bring insights into how lithium ion batteries degrade, and show it's more complicated than many thought. Full Article
r How a molecular 'alarm' system in plants protects them from predators By www.sciencedaily.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 08:35:47 EDT Some plants, like soybean, are known to possess an innate defense machinery that helps them develop resistance against insects trying to feed on them. However, exactly how these plants recognize signals from insects has been unknown until now. Scientists have now uncovered the cellular pathway that helps these plants to sense danger signals and elicit a response, opening doors to a myriad of agricultural applications. Full Article
r Newly discovered mechanism can explain increased risk of dementia By www.sciencedaily.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 08:35:49 EDT Millions of people around the world use acid suppressants called proton pump inhibitors for conditions like heartburn, gastritis and stomach ulcers. Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden now report that how the long-term use of these drugs could increase the risk of developing dementia. Their results are published in the journal Alzheimer's & Dementia. Full Article
r Canadian study finds temperature, latitude not associated with COVID-19 spread By www.sciencedaily.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 08:35:51 EDT A new study finds that temperature and latitude do not appear to be associated with the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but school closures and other public health measures are having a positive effect. Full Article
r Neanderthals were choosy about making bone tools By www.sciencedaily.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 11:28:56 EDT Evidence continues to mount that the Neanderthals, who lived in Europe and Asia until about 40,000 years ago, were more sophisticated people than once thought. A new study shows that Neanderthals chose to use bones from specific animals to make a tool for specific purpose: working hides into leather. Full Article
r Fishing can disrupt mating systems By www.sciencedaily.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 11:29:01 EDT In many fish species body size plays an important role in sexual selection. Large individuals are preferred mating partners because they can enhance offspring survival by providing better quality resources than small individuals. While large females and males are often favored by sexual selection, fishing targets and removes these reproductively superior individuals. Full Article
r How does the brain link events to form a memory? Study reveals unexpected mental processes By www.sciencedaily.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 11:29:03 EDT The brain has a powerful ability to remember and connect events separated in time. And now, in a new study in mice, scientists have shed light on how the brain can form such enduring links. Full Article
r Human-driven pollution alters the environment even underground By www.sciencedaily.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 11:29:06 EDT The Monte Conca cave system in Sicily is showing signs of being altered by pollution from above. Full Article
r Protein shredder regulates fat metabolism in the brain By www.sciencedaily.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 11:29:12 EDT A protein shredder that occurs in cell membranes of brain cells apparently also indirectly regulates the fat metabolism. The shredder, known as gamma-secretase, is considered a possible target for drugs against cancer and Alzheimer's disease. However, the results suggest that such agents may have long-range effects that need to be watched closely. Full Article
r Chemistry breakthrough could speed up drug development By www.sciencedaily.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 11:29:13 EDT Scientists have successfully developed a new technique to reliably grow crystals of organic soluble molecules from nanoscale droplets, unlocking the potential of accelerated new drug development. Full Article
r More selective elimination of leukemia stem cells and blood stem cells By www.sciencedaily.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 11:29:15 EDT Hematopoietic stem cells from a healthy donor can help patients suffering from acute leukemia. However, the side effects of therapies are often severe. Researchers have now shown how human healthy and cancerous hematopoietic stem cells can be more selectively eliminated using immunotherapy instead of chemotherapy in mice. The aim is to test the new immunotherapy in humans as soon as possible. Full Article
r Our pupils move to the rhythm of the environment By www.sciencedaily.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 11:29:17 EDT Regular processes in the environment improve our eyesight. Full Article
r Scientists develop sustainable way to extract chitin from prawn shells By www.sciencedaily.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 11:29:19 EDT Scientists have developed a green way to create chitin, by using two forms of food waste - prawn shells and discarded fruit - and fermenting them. Full Article
r Controlling quantumness: Simulations reveal details about how particles interact By www.sciencedaily.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 11:29:24 EDT A recent study has described new states that can be found in super-cold atom experiments, which could have applications for quantum technology. Full Article
r Data science drives new maps to predict the growth of cities over next century By www.sciencedaily.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 13:38:00 EDT A new global simulation model offers the first long-term look at how urbanization -- the growth of cities and towns -- will unfold in the coming decades. The research team projects the total amount of urban areas on Earth can grow anywhere from 1.8 to 5.9-fold by 2100, building approximately 618,000 square miles. Full Article
r To climb like a gecko, robots need toes By www.sciencedaily.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 14:53:21 EDT Researchers know the secret to geckos' ability to walk on the ceiling: their hairy toes. But how do they use their five toes per foot to adjust to gravity when running horizontally along walls. Biologists have now used high-speed cameras to record how geckos orient their toes with shifting weight, especially when encountering slippery or rough patches, and found a remarkable ability to adjust toe orientation to stick and peel while running full speed. Full Article
r To err is human, to learn, divine By www.sciencedaily.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 14:53:24 EDT New research describes a new model for how the brain interprets patterns in complex networks. They found that the ability to detect patterns stems in part from the brain's desire to represent things in the simplest way possible and that the brain is constantly weighing the pressures of complexity and simplicity when making decisions. Full Article