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Showing posts from April, 2021

NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter has made its fourth and furthest flight

The Ingenuity helicopter has made its fourth flight on Mars, the furthest and fastest it’s travelled so far – and its mission has been extended to allow more tests from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/2Sk8XJp

Wildfire smoke trends worsening for Western US

New research ties the worsening trend of extreme poor air quality events in Western regions to wildfire activity, with growing trends of smoke impacting air quality clear into September. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/331OESW

Icebreaker's cyclone encounter reveals faster sea ice decline

An icebreaker unexpectedly in the path of an Arctic cyclone allowed researchers to unravel why sea ice declines during and after a cyclone. For the first time ever, scientists were able to show that cyclone-triggered processes within the Arctic Ocean melt sea ice from below. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3vKSg8z

Extent of human impact on the world's plant-life revealed

Research has shed new light on the impact of humans on Earth's biodiversity. The findings suggest that the rate of change in an ecosystem's plant-life increases significantly during the years following human settlement, with the most dramatic changes occurring in locations settled in the last 1500 years. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3xvKjWe

How diet controls RNA maturation

Particularly sensitive to chemical modifications, mRNAs are molecules responsible for transmitting the information encoded in our genome, allowing for the synthesis of proteins. Two teams have focused on a specific type of chemical modification - called methylation - of mRNA molecules in the small worm Caenorhabditis elegans. They found that methylation on a particular sequence of an mRNA leads to its degradation and that this control mechanism depends on the worm's diet. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3nEOSJw

Covid-19 news: Prior infection boosts response to single Pfizer jab

The latest coronavirus news updated every day including coronavirus cases, the latest news, features and interviews from New Scientist and essential information about the covid-19 pandemic from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3t7ZSQL

Combining solar panels and lamb grazing increases land productivity, study finds

Land productivity could be greatly increased by combining sheep grazing and solar energy production on the same land, according to new research. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3eEWnfo

How meningitis-causing bacteria may sense fever to avoid immune killing

Researchers have discovered a mechanism through which meningitis-causing bacteria can evade our immune system. In laboratory tests, they found that Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae respond to increasing temperatures by producing safeguards that keep them from getting killed. This may prime their defenses against our immune system and increase their chances of survival, the researchers say. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2QAwZPX

Multi-drug resistant infection about to evolve within cystic fibrosis patients

Scientists have been able to track how a multi-drug resistant organism is able to evolve and spread widely among cystic fibrosis patients - showing that it can evolve rapidly within an individual during chronic infection. The researchers say their findings highlight the need to treat patients with Mycobacterium abscessus infection immediately, counter to current medical practice. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3e2EGaq

Lightning and subvisible discharges produce molecules that clean the atmosphere

Lightning bolts break apart nitrogen and oxygen molecules in the atmosphere and create reactive chemicals that affect greenhouse gases. Now, a team of atmospheric chemists and lightning scientists have found that lightning bolts and, surprisingly, subvisible discharges that cannot be seen by cameras or the naked eye produce extreme amounts of the hydroxyl radical -- OH -- and hydroperoxyl radical -- HO2. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2Re3CTc

Exploiting plants' ability to 'tell the time' to make food production more sustainable

Plant scientists say circadian clock genes, which enable plants to measure daily and seasonal rhythms, should be targeted in agriculture and crop breeding for higher yields and more sustainable farming. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3vuf7F6

Fish have been swallowing microplastics since the 1950s

Researchers examined the guts of freshwater fish preserved in museum collections; they found that fish have been swallowing microplastics since the 1950s and that the concentration of microplastics in their guts has increased over time. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3aTexsv

NASA's Parker Solar Probe has gone faster than any spacecraft ever

NASA’s Parker Solar Probe has flown the closest to the sun of any spacecraft, at a remarkable speed that would allow it to circle Earth in under 5 minutes from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3xxomGx

Eastern and Western house mice took parallel evolutionary paths after colonizing US

Parallel evolution is common, but do different animal populations evolve in similar ways and alter the same genes to adapt to similar environmental conditions? Researchers tested this in two U.S. populations of house mice. They found independent evolution of a heavier body and larger nests as Eastern and Western populations invaded northern habitats after introduction from Europe. Many of the same genes changed allele frequency along with the increase in body mass. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3aRVqiw

Mapping the 'superhighways' traveled by the first Australians

'Superhighways' used by a population of up to 6.5 million Indigenous Australians to navigate the continent tens of thousands of years ago have been revealed by new research using sophisticated modelling of past people and landscapes. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3eKDWWp

The Arctic's greening, but it won't save us

New research suggests that new green biomass in the Arctic is not as large a carbon sink as scientists had hoped. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3xzyled

Structural changes in snap-frozen proteins

Researchers have succeeded in ultra-fast freezing proteins after a precisely defined period of time. They were able to follow structural changes on the microsecond time scale and with sub-nanometer precision. Owing to its high spatial and temporal resolution, the method allows tracking rapid structural changes in enzymes and nucleic acids. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3gShbCz

Soil bacteria evolve with climate change

While evolution is normally thought of as occurring over millions of years, researchers have discovered that bacteria can evolve in response to climate change in 18 months. Biologists found that evolution is one way that soil microbes might deal with global warming. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3gNjF5n

The Deep-Sea Podcast review: The mind-boggling mysteries of the deep

The deep sea has a reputation for being more mysterious than the moon, but that's changing. A new podcast delves into the latest news from the depths from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3aUzRhg

Don't Miss: Netflix's Jupiter's Legacy features sci-fi parent envy

New Scientist's weekly round-up of the best books, films, TV series, games and more that you shouldn't miss from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3aOuoZC

Why billionaires are fighting over who gets to land humans on the moon

After NASA selected SpaceX to land humans on the moon in 2024, its competitors Blue Origin and Dynetics filed complaints with the US government from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3341Rux

Driftwood could be recycled into cleaner electric car batteries

Driftwood can be transformed into a material called "hard carbon" and used in sodium-ion batteries to power electric cars from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3nxvEW7

Nature's hardest-to-reproduce colours recreated in exhibition

Naturally Brilliant Colour, an exhibition at London's Kew Gardens, showcases a technology called Pure Structural Colour that mimics some of the colours found in nature that are hardest to reproduce from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3t0KBRH

Arabian cult may have built 1000 monuments older than Stonehenge

A survey shows a region of Saudi Arabia is home to 1000 monuments that may all date back 7000 years, and that seem to have been used for ritual activities from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3e4ddVN

Scientists propose improvements to precision crop irrigation

With threats of water scarcity complicating the need to feed a growing global population, it is more important than ever to get crop irrigation right. Overwatering can deplete local water supplies and lead to polluted runoff, while underwatering can lead to sub-optimal crop performance. Yet few farmers use science-based tools to help them decide when and how much to water their crops. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3eH6m3J

Methane release rapidly increases in the wake of the melting ice sheets

Melting of the Arctic ice sheets caused rapid methane release from the ocean floor during the last two deglaciations, according to a new study. A similar release is likely to happen today, and should be included in climate models, say the scientists. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3xCo0y7

Molecular biologists travel back in time 3 billion years

A research group has succeeded in studying 'translation factors' - important components of a cell's protein synthesis machinery - that are several billion years old. By studying these ancient 'resurrected' factors, the researchers were able to establish that they had much broader specificities than their present-day, more specialized counterparts. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3aOU2x3

Was North America populated by 'stepping stone' migration across Bering Sea?

A new study may answer 'one of the greatest mysteries of our time . . . when humans made the first bold journey to the Americas.' from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3t59VFU

Light, in addition to ocean temperature, plays role in coral bleaching

A study has found that shade can mitigate the effects of heat stress on corals. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2S9LH0x

Time for a mass extinction metrics makeover

Researchers say the scientific community sorely needs a new way to compare the cascading effects of ecosystem loss due to human-induced environmental change to major crises of the past. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2SgiTnd

Research advances emerging DNA sequencing technology

Researchers have moved closer toward this goal by developing a nanopore sequencing platform that, for the first time, can detect the presence of nucleobases, the building blocks of DNA and RNA. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3nvPtNo

Avocado discovery may point to leukemia treatment

A compound in avocados may ultimately offer a route to better leukemia treatment, says a new study. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3e0MTvB

A new strain of a well-known probiotic might offer help for infants' intestinal problems

A new strain of the Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG probiotic is able to utilise both lactose and casein as well as reproduce in dairy products. The discovery can make it unnecessary to separately add the probiotic to dairy products, in addition to which it could fare better in the intestine, boosting gut health. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3u68sR0

Japanese bay full of fish scales could mark start of the Anthropocene

A bay in south-west Japan could become the place on Earth that geologists use to officially establish the start of the Anthropocene, thanks to an abundance of sardine scales that mark humanity's growing influence on the planet from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3e5ik8m

Global glacier retreat has accelerated

Scientists have shown that almost all the world's glaciers are becoming thinner and losing mass - and that these changes are picking up pace. The team's analysis is the most comprehensive and accurate of its kind to date. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2QEA8hq

Battery parts can be recycled without crushing or melting

Researchers have now discovered that electrodes in lithium batteries containing cobalt can be reused as is after being newly saturated with lithium. In comparison to traditional recycling, which typically extracts metals from crushed batteries by melting or dissolving them, the new process saves valuable raw materials, and likely also energy. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3nvGnjI

Why the latest muon measurements are so tantalising for physics

Recent experiments hint that there may be particles that we have yet to discover, but there could be a different explanation too, writes Chanda Prescod-Weinstein from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3vuGtLf

Mammals evolved big brains after big disasters

A large study reveals the way relative brain size of mammals changed over the last 150 million years. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3eEJuBN

Social media and science show how ship's plastic cargo dispersed from Florida to Norway

Researchers combined sightings data reported by members of the public and oceanographic modelling tools to show how lost ink cartridges reached their resting place. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3xz2RVG

Is forest harvesting increasing in Europe?

Is forest harvesting increasing in Europe? Yes, but not as much as reported last July in a controversial study. Forest harvest has increased by just 6% in recent years, not 69% as reported by the European Commission's Joint Research Center. The errors are due to satellite sensitivity and natural disturbances according to a response paper authored by 30 scientists from 13 European countries. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3e0kW79

Michael Collins: Apollo 11 pilot and 'loneliest man ever' dies aged 90

Michael Collins, the third Apollo 11 crew member who piloted the first manned mission to the moon in 1969 has died, aged 90 from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/2PCNCKi

Facebook vs Australia and the new battle to cut big tech down to size

The public spat between Facebook and Australia earlier this year presages a new effort to regulate big tech companies – but could that threaten the whole future of the web? from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3e0p1Ze

The £1 million pixel that is the future of art (or not)

Art on the blockchain, plus reducing transmission with a tin-foil hat and DIY product recommendation algorithms, in Feedback’s weird weekly round-up from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3b6iJpd

UK air pollution fell to record lows in 2020 due to lockdowns

Air pollution in the UK last year fell to its lowest levels in decades due to the coronavirus pandemic’s unprecedented restrictions curbing traffic from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3eEBLUp

Why bringing Martian rocks back to Earth is a bad idea

There are plans to return samples from Mars to check them for signs of life, but we should examine them before they reach our planet, says Paul Marks from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3nxt0zv

Female black widow spider mates with and eats multiple males

Female black widow spiders often mate with and eat only one male – but in one species the female will mate again, meaning males die even though they may not father offspring from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3aO13OP

Billion-year-old microbe had taken first step towards internal organs

Multicellular organisms were developing bodies with different kinds of cell much earlier than thought – a key step towards animals with complex bodies and multiple organs from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3gQiX7k

Covid-19 news: India passes grim milestone of 200,000 deaths

The latest coronavirus news updated every day including coronavirus cases, the latest news, features and interviews from New Scientist and essential information about the covid-19 pandemic from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/2Qv1u9X

Childhood air pollution exposure linked to poor mental health at age 18

Childhood exposure to air pollution, such as nitrogen oxides and fine particulate matter, is a risk factor for mental illness at age 18. It is less of a factor than family history, but equal to lead, according to a new study. The finding comes from a cohort of 2,000 twins born in England and Wales in 1994-1995 and followed to young adulthood. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3t4AlHY

Project to read genomes of all 70,000 vertebrate species reports first discoveries

A bold project to read the complete genetic sequences of every known vertebrate species reaches its first milestone by publishing new methods and the first 25 high-quality genomes. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3dWV3W2

Major advance enables study of genetic mutations in any tissue

For the first time, scientists are able to study changes in the DNA of any human tissue, following the resolution of long-standing technical challenges. The new method, called nanorate sequencing (NanoSeq), makes it possible to study how genetic changes occur in human tissues with unprecedented accuracy. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3nsA8NA

Household aerosols now release more harmful smog chemicals than all UK vehicles

Aerosol products used in the home now emit more harmful volatile organic compound (VOC) air pollution than all the vehicles in the UK, new research shows. A new study reveals that the picture is damaging globally with the world's population now using huge numbers of disposable aerosols - more than 25 billion cans per year. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2QHGg8F

Frozen cloud of molecules acts as a single quantum object

For the first time, researchers have created a frozen cloud of molecules that share the same quantum state, meaning it behaves as if it were a single molecule from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3aOSt2q

'Dominating' fungus could be solution to producing more biofuels and chemicals

The discovery of a novel enzyme that releases a valuable chemical from agricultural waste could provide an important breakthrough in the upscaling of renewable fuels and chemicals, a new study shows. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3dXBdde

Solar-powered desalination unit shows great promise

Freshwater accounts for only about 2.5% of water on Earth, so much of the world experiences serious water shortages. Scientists report the development of a highly efficient desalination device that uses a titanium-containing layer capable of absorbing solar energy. When sunlight strikes the layer, it heats rapidly and vaporizes the water. By placing the unit in a transparent container with a sloped quartz roof, the water vapor can be condensed and collected. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3eyGwii

Linguists predict unknown words using language comparison

A new article describes an experiment that illustrates how the classical method for the reconstruction of unattested languages can also be used to predict hitherto undocumented words in poorly described and endangered languages of India. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3eB6zWd

Saharan dust could increase the risk of avalanches in the French Alps

Dust from the northern Sahara can darken snow in the French Alps, which makes the snow absorb more heat and melt. This can lead to a higher risk of skiers triggering slab avalanches from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/2QCG8Y9

We'll soon be able to tell whether you are immune to covid-19

Researchers are searching for a simple measure of the entire immune response that tells you whether somebody is protected against covid-19, in order to develop a true immunity test from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3viKHpg

Covid-19 lockdown has left young children vulnerable to some illnesses

As some parts of Australia see a delayed surge of respiratory disease in children, there are concerns that young immune systems may be suffering from lockdowns and social distancing from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/2Sccg5p

Switching to light

Researchers have developed a new optogenetic tool that simplifies a standard method in biotechnology: Instead of feeding E. coli bacteria with sugar as is commonly done, the researchers can now simply shine light on them. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/32ZNJCs

Lactic acid bacteria can extend the shelf life of foods

Researchers have generated a lactic acid bacterium that efficiently secretes a food-grade preservative when grown on dairy waste. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3eBR9kj

Spring forest flowers likely key to bumblebee survival

For more than a decade, ecologists have been warning of a downward trend in bumble bee populations across North America, with habitat destruction a primary culprit in those losses. While efforts to preserve wild bees in the Midwest often focus on restoring native flowers to prairies, a new study finds evidence of a steady decline in the availability of springtime flowers in wooded landscapes. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3tV5KOl

Honeybees stress each other out by warning about minor parasites

Honeybees produce a warning pheromone when relatively harmless parasites infect their hive – and the social stress this chemical causes might lead the colony to collapse from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3vEes4b

Espresso, latte or decaf? Genetic code drives your desire for coffee

Whether you hanker for a hard hit of caffeine or favor the frothiness of a milky cappuccino, your regular coffee order could be telling you more about your cardio health than you think. In a new study of 390,435 people, researchers found causal genetic evidence that cardio health - as reflected in blood pressure and heart rate - influences coffee consumption. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3gJJ7bM

Drones provide bird's eye view of how turbulent tidal flows affect seabird foraging habits

Scientists used drones to provide a synchronized bird's eye view of what seabirds see and how their behavior changes depending on the movement of tidal flows beneath them. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3aIS81e

Suzanne Simard interview: How I uncovered the hidden language of trees

First she discovered the wood wide web. Now Suzanne Simard has found that underground connections in a forest are like a brain that allows trees to form societies – and look out for their kin from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3sXNDWH

Air pollution halved in first UK lockdown but fell less in the third

During the first coronavirus lockdown, air pollution halved in the UK, but more recent lockdowns saw a drop of only 28 per cent as more people used gas boilers while working from home and for keeping warm during the winter from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3gIhlfT

Honeybees stress each other out by warning about harmless parasites

Honey bees produce a warning pheromone when relatively harmless parasites infect their hives – and the social stress caused by the warning might cause the colony to collapse from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3dZicqA

RNA scientists identify many genes involved in neuron development

A team has identified many genes that are important in fruit flies' neuron development, and that had never been described before in that context. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3xsgwOd

Fishing in African waters

Industrial fleets from countries around the world have been increasingly fishing in African waters, but with climate change and increasing pollution threatening Africa's fish stocks, there is a growing concern of the sustainability of these marine fisheries if they continue to be exploited. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3ntDf83

Covid-19 news: Medical supply donations begin to arrive in India

The latest coronavirus news updated every day including coronavirus cases, the latest news, features and interviews from New Scientist and essential information about the covid-19 pandemic from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3gDDMTw

Science with Sam: Why can’t we stay awake indefinitely?

We spend one-third of our lives asleep, but why is it so essential? In this episode, we explain the science of sleep and why we can’t stay awake indefinitely. from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/2QyS1OE

Marine biodiversity: Enormous variety of animal life in the deep sea revealed

New research method combines different types of data, revealing that the deep-sea basins in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans have unique species communities that are threatened by economic exploitation. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/32Uw3bI

New chemical tool that sheds light on how proteins recognize and interact with each other

A research group has developed a novel chemical tool for elucidating protein interaction networks in cells. This tool not only facilitates the identification of a protein's interacting partners in the complex cellular context, but also simultaneously allows the 'visualization' of these protein-protein interactions. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3exgHPO

Researchers show new holistic approach to genetics and plant breeding

A group of researchers has discovered a new approach to cereal plant breeding that takes into account the internal 'calculator' of plant seeds that makes them continuously reorganize themselves (global coherence). The approach includes unforeseen and unintended changes in the plant when genetically manipulated by the plant breeders. The researchers expect that the method can be used to improve the world's crops much more efficiently. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3np1Jz8

One in four people in England exercised less during and after lockdown

A large number of people did less exercise through lockdown and never increased it back to normal levels, with potentially long-term repercussions for physical and mental health from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3aJjX9w

Mangrove genetic diversity in Africa

Researcher have published a large-scale study examining the genetic diversity of mangroves over more than 1,800 miles of coastline in the Western Indian Ocean, including Eastern Africa and several islands. This work showcases how oceanic currents create both connectivity and barriers between mangrove populations, with important implications for how to protect these ecosystems. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3vmmmPb

New method preserves viable fruit fly embryos in liquid nitrogen

A team has developed a method that cryopreserves fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) embryos so they can be successfully recovered and developed into adult insects. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/32OXgfQ

The bluest of blue: A new algae-based switch is lighting up biological research

Scientists have discovered a novel ion channel protein that can be controlled by light, in a species of terrestrial alga. These channels respond to the shorter indigo blue wavelength of light, according to the researchers. Subsequent light-based manipulations of the channel find potential applications in the modulations of specific functions of nerves, muscles, and more, for biological research. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3dXuShG

Fully recyclable printed electronics developed

Engineers have developed fully recyclable printed electronics. By demonstrating a crucial and relatively complex computer component -- the transistor -- created with three carbon-based inks, the researchers hope to inspire a new generation of recyclable electronics to help fight the growing global epidemic of electronic waste. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3ny4cHO

Did you know? Marie Curie’s notebooks are still radioactive

Unaware of the effects of radioactivity on the body, Curie and her husband would regularly handle elements without precautions. from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3dXrrHO

The new EU climate target could phase out coal power in Europe as early as 2030

Tightening the EU emissions trading system (EU ETS) in line with the EU Green Deal would dramatically speed up the decarbonization of Europe's power sector - and likely cause a demise of the coal industry. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3vtRVHb

How oxygen radicals protect against cancer

Oxygen radicals in the body are generally considered dangerous because they can trigger something called oxidative stress, which is associated with the development of many chronic diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. In studies on mice, scientists have now discovered how oxygen radicals, conversely, can also reduce the risk of cancer and mitigate damage to the hereditary molecule DNA. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3tRrRVT

Future drones likely to resemble 300-million-year-old flying machine

Researchers have drawn inspiration from a 300-million-year-old superior flying machine - the dragonfly - to show why future flapping wing drones will probably resemble the insect in shape, wings and gearing. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3vh8uFY

Value from sewage? New technology makes pig farming more environmentally friendly

A novel nitrate removal system can clean up the wastewater produced by swine farms. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3aISNiS

Study first to explore combined impacts of fishing and ocean warming on fish populations

The combined effect of rapid ocean warming and the practice of targeting big fish is affecting the viability of wild populations and global fish stock says new research. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2R6jp6v

Skin and bones repaired by bioprinting during surgery

Fixing traumatic injuries to the skin and bones of the face and skull is difficult because of the many layers of different types of tissues involved, but now, researchers have repaired such defects in a rat model using bioprinting during surgery, and their work may lead to faster and better methods of healing skin and bones. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/32RoBhh

Vertical turbines could be the future for wind farms

The now-familiar sight of traditional propeller wind turbines could be replaced in the future with wind farms containing more compact and efficient vertical turbines. New research has found that the vertical turbine design is far more efficient than traditional turbines in large scale wind farms, and when set in pairs the vertical turbines increase each other's performance by up to 15%. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3dRzINz

Extinct 'horned' crocodile gets new spot in the tree of life

New research has resolved a long-standing controversy about an extinct 'horned' crocodile that likely lived among humans in Madagascar. Based on ancient DNA, the study shows that the horned crocodile was closely related to 'true' crocodiles, including the famous Nile crocodile, but on a separate branch of the crocodile family tree. The study contradicts recent scientific thinking and also suggests that the ancestor of modern crocodiles likely originated in Africa. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/335xJiJ

Old tom cats have more mutations in their sperm like older human males

Genetic sequencing shows that cat sperm accumulates more mutations as males age, just like in humans, suggesting this is a universal phenomenon in animals from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/2R63sx9

China is about to start building a space station in orbit

China is about to launch the first section of a new space station, beginning a massive orbital construction project that is expected to end in 2022 with an outpost about a quarter of the size of the International Space Station from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3sWkwDg

2020 Australian bushfires hit people in disadvantaged areas hardest

The most socio-economically disadvantaged communities in Australia were disproportionately affected by the 2019 to 2020 bushfires from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3dRr81j

Covid-19 vaccine side-effects: Here’s everything you need to know

As growing numbers of younger adults get vaccinated against covid-19, we look at what side effects they might experience, and whether they relate to your immunity against the virus from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/2R1e3tu

Cleaner water through corn

Corn is America's top agricultural crop, and also one of its most wasteful. About half the harvest -- stalks, leaves, husks, and cobs -- remains as waste after the kernels have been stripped from the cobs. These leftovers, known as corn stover, have few commercial or industrial uses aside from burning. A new article describes an energy-efficient way to put corn stover back into the economy by transforming it into activated carbon for use in water treatment. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3nlOdwn

Life science research result reporting set for boost under new system

A new guideline for reporting research results has been developed to improve reproducibility, replication, and transparency in life sciences. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3gFpaCZ

Airports could generate enough solar energy to power a city

New research shows placing solar panels on the roofs of Australian airport buildings could be an efficient step towards net zero emissions. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2R4PN9W

Sponges leave trails on the ocean floor

A team around deep-sea scientist has now discovered that sponges leave trails on the sea floor in the Arctic deep sea. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2R4NCmM

A new way of rapidly counting and identifying viruses

A professor has introduced a new concept for rapidly analyzing for the presence of a virus from colds to coronaviruses. However, although the concept can identify that someone has a type of coronavirus for example, it would not be able to determine the type of coronavirus, or variants. Additional tests would still be required to find out the specific virus someone was infected with. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3aEAlrM

Microbes trap massive amounts of carbon

A new study finds a new microbial ecosystem thriving in violent conditions. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3u6TXg9

Researchers reveal that homes in floodplains are overvalued by nearly $44 billion

Analysis of sales data and flood risk data over two decades indicates that housing markets fail to fully account for information about flood risk. The findings suggest that policies to improve risk communication could influence market outcomes. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/32M9GoK

Hydrocracking our way to recycling plastic waste

Researchers have done developed a new method to convert single-use plastic waste into ready-to-use molecules for jet fuels, diesel and lubricants. It requires 50% less energy than other technologies and doesn't add carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. And their process can treat a variety of plastics, even when they are mixed together. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3tVQMaX

Research shows pain relieving effects of CBD

In an experimental pain study of CBD in humans, researchers conclude that CBD pain relief is driven by both pharmacological action and psychological placebo effects. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/32QXMK8

Covid-19 news: Countries send supplies to India as crisis deepens

The latest coronavirus news updated every day including coronavirus cases, the latest news, features and interviews from New Scientist and essential information about the covid-19 pandemic from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/32P9wNl

Covid-19 vaccine side-effects: Here’s everything you need to know

As growing numbers of younger adults get vaccinated against covid-19, we look at what side effects they might experience, and whether they relate to your immunity against the virus from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/2R1e3tu

70 per cent of people live in countries without sustainable resources

Almost three-quarters of people live in countries without enough natural resources to live sustainably – and without enough money to buy resources from elsewhere from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3gE02g3

Oxygen Express trains deliver supplies as India hit by covid-19 surge

Newly conceived "Oxygen Express" trains are re-routing supplies across India to meet a severe shortage of medical-grade oxygen, as the country’s coronavirus cases hit a record peak for the fifth day in a row from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/2S45C10

Implications are global in new study predicting Human exodus in Bangladesh

Researchers apply data science to predict how the cascading effects of the migration in Bangladesh will ultimately affect 1.3 million people across the country by 2050. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3xAJr2O

New research uncovers continental crust emerged 500 million years earlier than thought

Researchers using a new method involving the mineral barite have dated the first emergence of continental crust to 500 million years earlier than previously thought. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3gMtiky

Mapping the path to rewilding: The importance of landscape

New research suggests efforts to rewild a landscape must take geography and geology into account -- an approach that could be applied globally to help conservation biologists save wild ecosystems. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3tUZ16X

Stable coral cell lines cultured

Researchers in Japan have established sustainable cell lines in a coral - a success which could prove to be a pivotal moment for gaining a deeper understanding of the biology of these vital marine creatures. Seven out of eight cell cultures, seeded from the stony coral, Acropora tenuis, have continuously proliferated for over 10 months. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3dWTYxz

Genome sequencing delivers hope and warning for the survival of the Sumatran rhinoceros

A study shows that the last remaining populations of the Sumatran rhinoceros display surprisingly low levels of inbreeding. The genomes from 21 modern and historical rhinoceros' specimens were sequenced to investigate the genetic health in rhinos living today and ones that recently became extinct. With less than 100 individuals remaining, the Sumatran rhinoceros is one of the most endangered mammal species in the world. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2R2Rx39

Discovery of an elusive cell type in fish sensory organs

Scientists have reported newly identified invasive ionocytes in the sensory organs of larval and adult zebrafish fish that may provide clues to how sensory organs continue to function in changing environments. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3sUa7HY

Seismicity on Mars full of surprises, in first continuous year of data

The SEIS seismometer package from the Mars InSight lander has collected its first continuous Martian year of data, revealing some surprises among the more than 500 marsquakes detected so far. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3tTRsO0

We must seize this historic moment to secure our climate future

The stakes couldn’t be higher for the coming UN COP26 climate summit. Nations and individuals need to adopt a new mindset if we are to slash emissions – and that means more than separating out the recycling and buying low-energy light bulbs from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/32P1T9G

A single pint of beer contains up to 2 million bubbles

When lager is poured at 6°C, anywhere between 200,000 and 2 million tiny bubbles form, depending on the height and tilt of the glass from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3dTuYXX

Earth’s land may have formed 500 million years earlier than we thought

Analysis of ancient rock that may have originated in the ocean’s hydrothermal vents suggests Earth’s continental crust emerged 500 million years earlier than scientists thought from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/2PlLpCH

Climate has shifted the axis of the Earth

Melting glaciers redistributed enough water to cause the direction of polar wander to turn and accelerate eastward during the mid-1990s, according to a new study. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3dPx9vF

How to plant a fabulous front garden without losing your parking space

Paving over your front garden is tempting if you need to park near home or have little time for gardening. But smart planning can leave room for some lovely greenery, says Clare Wilson from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3v9xbnQ

Bacteria and viruses infect our cells through sugars: Now researchers want to know how they do it

Most infectious bacteria and viruses bind to sugars on the surface of our cells. Now researchers have created a library of tens of thousands of natural cells containing all the sugars found on the surface of our cells. The library may help us understand the role played by sugars and their receptors in the immune system and the brain, the researchers behind the study explain. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3aBbAgj

From toxic ions to single-atom copper

Researchers offer conclusive research for understanding how bacteria found in copper mines convert toxic copper ions to stable single-atom copper. Their research demonstrates how copper-resistant bacterium from a copper mine in Brazil convert copper sulfate ions into zero-valent metallic copper. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3xhShSZ

Synthetic gelatin-like material mimics lobster underbelly's stretch and strength

Researchers fabricated a synthetic hydrogel that mimics the stretch and strength of a lobster's underbelly. The material could provide a blueprint for stretchy protective fabrics and artificial tissues. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2QmzdlW

First description of a new octopus species without using a scalpel

A biologist brought a new octopus species to light from depths of more than 4,000 meters in the North Pacific Ocean. Researchers have now published the species description and named the animal 'Emperor dumbo' (Grimpoteuthis imperator). Just as unusual as the organism is the researchers' approach: in order to describe the new species, they did not dissect the rare creature, but instead used non-destructive imaging techniques. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3sQSWHr

Travel paths of primates show how their minds work

Using data from 164 wild primate populations, the global survey examines the mental abilities that primates, including ourselves, use to know where and when to travel in the most efficient way. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3aB2Uqf

Fight or flight response may hinge on protein in skeletal muscular system

Researchers say a regulatory protein found in skeletal muscle fiber may play an important role in the body's fight or flight response when encountering stressful situations. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3xkSzIt

Flexible diet may help leaf-eating lemurs survive deforestation

A new study sequencing the genome of four species of sifakas (Propithecus), a genus of lemurs found in Madagascar's forests, reveals that these animals' taste for leaves runs all the way to their genes, which are also more diverse than expected for an endangered species. But they can also thrive on fruit and flowers, which may be an advantage over being strictly leaves-only or fruit-only in the face of forest fragmentation. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3dLrzu0

Climate change affects deep-sea corals and sponges differently

Corals and sponges are important foundations in ocean ecosystems providing structure and habitats that shelter a high number of species like fish, crabs and other creatures, particularly in the seamounts and canyons of the deep sea. Researchers have discovered that when it comes to climate change not all deep-sea corals and sponges are affected the same and some could be threatened if average ocean temperatures continue to increase in the deep sea of the Northwest Atlantic. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3gO9qxR

Defense mechanisms in aphids can become a double-edged sword, sharpened by the seasons

Scientists examined the biological variations in pea aphids, insects that reproduce frequently enough to evolve before our eyes, by tracing the prevalence of their protective endosymbiont, Hamiltonella defensa, which the insects use to ward off parasitoid wasps. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3xijchk

The largest assessment of global groundwater wells finds many are at risk of drying up

'Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water.' It's a silly rhyme, but one that highlights a simple fact: Humans have long relied on wells -- such as the one visited by Jack and Jill -- for their primary drinking water supply. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2QtmFcj

Red Sea is no longer a baby ocean

The Red Sea is a fascinating and still puzzling area of investigation for geoscientists. Controversial questions include its age and whether it represents a special case in ocean basin formation or if it has evolved similarly to other, larger ocean basins. Researchers have now published a new tectonic model that suggests that the Red Sea is not only a typical ocean, but more mature than thought before. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3gBp1jW

US asbestos sites made risky by some remediation strategies

Efforts to prevent human exposure to asbestos may be mobilizing the cancer-causing mineral so that it can reach water supplies, based on new findings about how the fibers move through soil. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2RVswY9

Living cells: Individual receptors caught in the act of coupling

A new imaging technique that can capture movies of individual receptors on the surface of living cells in unprecedented detail could pave the way to a trove of new drugs. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/32XkPmR

Climate-friendly microbes chomp dead plants without releasing heat-trapping methane

Scientists have identified a new phylum of microbes found around the world that appear to be playing an important (and surprising) role in the global carbon cycle by helping break down decaying plants without producing the greenhouse gas methane. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3neV7Dy

Teaching pupils to 'think like Da Vinci' will help them to take on climate change

Reforms to the school curriculum which mix the arts and sciences, so that these subjects 'teach together' around common themes like climate change and food security, will better prepare young people for the real-world challenges that will define their adult lives, researchers argue in a new paper. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3aE33sZ

Scientists probe mysterious melting of Earth's crust in western North America

An unusual belt of igneous rocks stretches for over 2,000 miles from British Columbia, Canada, to Sonora, Mexico, running through Idaho, Montana, Nevada, southeast California and Arizona. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2PoYzPy

Chaos Walking review: Unsettling sci-fi that exposes men's thoughts

Sci-fi film Chaos Walking, featuring Tom Holland and Daisy Ridley, is a disconcerting little masterpiece of sensitive acting and well-judged world-building, says Simon Ings from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3aB5Umo

10 of the best popular science books as chosen by authors and writers

Pragya Agarwal, Jonathan Drori, Emily Shuckburgh and others choose their favourite popular science books. Did yours make the list? from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3gHZfKO

Radar satellites can better protect against bushfires and floods

New research has revealed how radar satellites can improve the ability to detect, monitor, prepare for and withstand natural disasters in Australia including bushfires, floods and earthquakes. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3vj5YyS

Hungry fruit flies are extreme ultramarathon fliers

New research indicates that the common fruit fly can travel tens of kilometers in a single flight when in search of food. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3nfKvEp

Machine learning model generates realistic seismic waveforms

A new machine-learning model that generates realistic seismic waveforms will reduce manual labor and improve earthquake detection, according to a new study. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3vkQniB

Monkeys are less cuddly with each other when dealing with an infection, study finds

Researchers studied wild vervet monkey troops in South Africa, tracking both their social grooming behavior and their parasite load. The results showed evidence that monkeys carrying certain gastrointestinal parasites do not groom others as much as those without the parasite, and that routes of transmission may not be as clear cut as biologists think. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3eqmtm5

Cracking the code of the Dead Sea Scrolls

The Dead Sea Scrolls, discovered some seventy years ago, are famous for containing the oldest manuscripts of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) and many hitherto unknown ancient Jewish texts. But the individual people behind the scrolls have eluded scientists, because the scribes are anonymous. Now, by combining the sciences and the humanities, researchers have cracked the code, which enables them to discover the scribes behind the scrolls. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3dNyuTI

Covid-19 news: Japan to declare state of emergency ahead of Olympics

The latest coronavirus news updated every day including coronavirus cases, the latest news, features and interviews from New Scientist and essential information about the covid-19 pandemic from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3ngxjz3

Can we finally wipe out malaria with a vaccine 37 years in the making?

Efforts to make malaria history have had huge success in recent years. Now, there’s hope that a long-awaited vaccine can go the last mile from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3dLdtc1

Recreating the earliest stages of life

A group of scientists has now demonstrated the presence of precursors of the placenta and the amniotic sac in synthetic embryos they created from mouse stem cells. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3vfs7yo

Unlocking Australia's biodiversity, one dataset at a time

The Atlas of Living Australia (ALA) - Australia's national biodiversity database - uses cutting-edge digital tools to let people share, access and analyze data about local plants, animals and fungi, as well as environmental data like rainfall and temperature. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3xmbXVu

How is a molecular machine assembled?

The conversion of light into chemical energy by plants and photosynthetic microorganisms is one of the most important processes in nature, removing climate-damaging CO2 from the atmosphere. Protein complexes, so-called photosystems, play the key role in this process. An international research team shed light for the first time on the structure and function of a transition state in the synthesis of photosystem II. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3tPcqxi

Freeze! Executioner protein caught in the act

A new molecular 'freeze frame' technique has allowed researchers to see key steps in how the protein MLKL kills cells. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3esIG32

Dating in a jungle: Female praying mantises jut out weird pheromone gland to attract mates

Praying mantises are bizarre insects, yet many aspects of their biology remain unknown. Meanwhile, scientists have discovered that females of a South American species protrude a Y-shaped organ on their backs to release pheromones and attract males. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/32HaSJY

Antimatter stars may lurk in the solar system’s neighbourhood

There have been hints that 14 unlikely and exotic stars made of antimatter, called antistars, could exist in the area immediately surrounding our solar system from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3vbPDw0

UN climate chief Patricia Espinosa: We can still turn this around

It’s a critical time for action on climate change – but the rapid adaptations seen during the covid-19 pandemic offer hope that we can make a breakthrough, says the diplomat in charge of negotiations from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3azqnb6

Astronauts ride reused SpaceX capsule and rocket for the first time

Astronauts from NASA, the ESA and Japanese space agency JAXA have blasted off to the International Space Station on a reused SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule and Falcon 9 rocket from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3sKhHoH

Glancing at your phone quickly prompts other people to do the same

When one person looks at a smartphone, around half the people nearby will start checking their phones within 30 seconds   from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3dH9YDB

Don’t Miss: The Handmaid’s Tale returns with season 4

New Scientist's weekly round-up of the best books, films, TV series, games and more that you shouldn't miss from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/2QTqQ0J

Malaria vaccine from Oxford covid-19 team is most effective ever made

A malaria vaccine produced by the team behind the Oxford/AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine is 77 per cent effective in trials, offering hope of controlling a disease that kills an estimated 400,000 people each year, many of them children from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3neqz4F

Early Europeans shared a currency made from odd chunks of bronze

A single pan-European currency based on chunks of bronze was in use more than 2800 years ago, before the advent of coins or powerful nation states from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/32FTLbr

Exercise pills: Should we use drugs that mimic benefits of a workout?

Researchers are developing medicines that replicate the health benefits of exercise. In the process, they’re gaining insights into how to treat currently untreatable diseases from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3tLsbpb

The New Breed review: The case for treating robots as animals

As social robots edge into our lives, The New Breed by Kate Darling is a guide to how to think about them from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3tMSSK1

Grasses pass genes from one species to another but we don’t know how

A study of 17 grass species found that 13 of them carry genes that have been transferred from another species, suggesting that gene-swapping happens all the time from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3tJKavX

Lithium treats intellectual defects in mouse model of Bardet-Biedl Syndrome

Mice with symptoms that mimic Bardet-Biedl Syndrome (BBS) have difficulty with learning and generating new neurons in the hippocampus. However, according to a new study, these mental defects can be successfully treated with lithium. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/32Brwuy

Faster air exchange in buildings not always beneficial for coronavirus levels

Vigorous and rapid air exchanges might not always be a good thing when it comes to levels of coronavirus particles in a multiroom building, according to a new modeling study. Particle levels can spike in downstream rooms shortly after rapid ventilation. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/32Ch5Xy

Common antibiotic effective in healing coral disease lesions

An antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections in humans is showing promise in treating stony coral, found throughout the tropical western Atlantic, including several areas currently affected by stony coral tissue loss disease. Preserving M. cavernosa colonies is important due to its high abundance and role as a dominant reef builder in the northern section of Florida's Coral Reef. Results show that the Base 2B plus amoxicillin treatment had a 95 percent success rate at healing individual disease lesions. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3vdVgKk

Know your ally: Cooperative male dolphins can tell who's on their team

When it comes to friendships and rivalries, male dolphins know who the good team players are. New findings reveal that male dolphins form a social concept of team membership based on cooperative investment in the team. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3ax67Hf

Exercise pills: They seem to work but how should we use them?

Researchers have developed drugs that bestow many of the health benefits of working out. In the process, they might have figured out how to treat currently untreatable diseases like Alzheimer’s from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/2Phx1eS

The future looks bright for infinitely recyclable plastic

Plastics are ubiquitous, but they're not practical. Less than 10% are recycled, and the other approximately 8 billion tons are creating a pollution crisis. Researchers are determined to change that. A new analysis shows producing and recycling their game-changing new plastic could be easy and cheap enough to leave old plastics in the dust. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3sFUwf9

Aerial photos uncover an invisible fault in Chinese city

Decades-old aerial photos of Yudong District, Datong City in Shanxi Province, Northern China have helped researchers in their search for a fault hidden underneath the city's buildings and cement roads, researchers said. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2QM1vpB

New evidence shows important seabird nutrients reach coral reefs after rat eradication

Scientists have provided the first evidence to show that eradicating rats from tropical islands effects not just the biodiversity on the islands, but also the fragile coral seas that surround them. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3gvF2Id

A growing problem of 'deepfake geography': How AI falsifies satellite images

Using satellite photos of three cities and drawing upon methods used to manipulate video and audio files, a team of researchers set out to identify new ways of detecting fake satellite photos and warn of the dangers of falsified geospatial data. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3tISCMc

Stowaway review: A claustrophobic and philosophical space thriller

Netflix 's Stowaway, starring Anna Kendrick, Daniel Dae Kim, Shamier Anderson and Toni Collette, tells the story of a space crew who face an impossible choice when an unplanned passenger compromises the lives of everyone on board from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/2QgliOh

The intricate dance between waves, wind, and gliding pelicans explored

It's a common sight: pelicans gliding along the waves, right by the shore. These birds make this kind of surfing look effortless, but actually the physics involved that give them a big boost are not simple. Researchers have recently developed a theoretical model that describes how the ocean, the wind and the birds in flight interact. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3dHo484

We shouldn't use Renaissance watermelons to judge nutritional value

Many crops have changed over the years through cultivation, but that doesn't mean they have become less nutritious nor is that possible to judge from a picture, writes James Wong from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3ncUxpC

President Biden sets new US target of 52 per cent carbon cut by 2030

US president Joe Biden will commit the world’s second biggest emitter to cutting its greenhouse gas emissions by up to 52 per cent by 2030 at a climate summit today from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/32CM59P

Climate change in graphics: The charts that show we must act now

Global warming is already happening as carbon emissions keep on rising, with effects from sea level rise to more and more extreme weather events worldwide from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3esahkZ

The difficulties of getting hold of a powerful monopolar dog collar

Why special magnetic dog collars are hard to come by, plus the steak company in a beef with Neil deGrasse Tyson and the many lives of Brian Cox, in Feedback’s weird weekly round-up from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3ax7hCr

NASA has produced oxygen on the surface of Mars for the first time

The MOXIE experiment, which flew with NASA’s Perseverance rover to Mars, has turned some of the planet’s carbon dioxide atmosphere into clean, breathable oxygen from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3dFjtDe

More fissures are opening up at the Fagradalsfjall volcano in Iceland

This extraordinary aerial shot of a recent volcanic eruption near the city of Reykjavik in Iceland shows the fourth fissure to appear during this series of eruptions from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3aucdb8

The science of how lockdown messes with the way we grieve

Lockdown is affecting how millions of people grieve. We need to be mindful of that when restrictions ease, says Dean Burnett from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3nbsYx8

Hailstones are not spheres – they’re shaped more like a rugby ball

A survey done by storm chasers has found that hailstones are not usually spherical but an oblong shape called a tri-axial ellipsoid, a finding that could improve the models that predict hailstorm dynamics from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/32EVWMi

Plant Heist review: Succulent stealing is a big money game

There is a mysterious black market for succulents poached from the California coast. A fascinating documentary follows the people trying to put an end to it from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3tHifgp

Why climate change is driving some to skip having kids

A new study finds that overconsumption, overpopulation and uncertainty about the future are among the top concerns of those who say climate change is affecting their reproductive decision-making. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3n904O8

Mice master complex thinking with a remarkable capacity for abstraction

Categorization is the brain's tool to organize nearly everything we encounter in our daily lives. Grouping information into categories simplifies our complex world and helps us to react quickly and effectively to new experiences. Scientists have now shown that also mice categorize surprisingly well. The researchers identified neurons encoding learned categories and thereby demonstrated how abstract information is represented at the neuronal level. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2QebtQT

Central African forests are unequally vulnerable to global change

An international study reveals the composition of the tropical forests of Central Africa and their vulnerability to the increased pressure from climate change and human activity expected in the coming decades. Thanks to an exceptional dataset - an inventory of over 6 million trees across five countries - the researchers have produced the first continuous maps of the floristic and functional composition of these forests, allowing them to identify the most vulnerable areas. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3n7RM9j

Climate 'tipping points' need not be the end of the world

The disastrous consequences of climate 'tipping points' could be averted if global warming was reversed quickly enough, new research suggests. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/32BzZxM

Wildfire smoke linked to skin disease

Wildfire smoke can trigger a host of respiratory and cardiovascular symptoms, ranging from runny nose and cough to a potentially life-threatening heart attack or stroke. A new study suggests that the dangers posed by wildfire smoke may also extend to the largest organ in the human body, and our first line of defense against outside threat: the skin. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3sIp2VE

In calculating the social cost of methane, equity matters

A new study reports that the social cost of methane - a greenhouse gas that is 30 times as potent as carbon dioxide in its ability to trap heat - varies by as much as an order of magnitude between industrialized and developing regions of the world. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2Pb4gQR

To design truly compostable plastic, scientists take cues from nature

Scientists have designed an enzyme-activated compostable plastic that could diminish microplastics pollution. Household tap water or soil composts break the hybrid plastic material down to reusable small molecules, called monomers, in just a few days or weeks. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3dEpJv3

Freshwater salt pollution threatens ecosystem health and human water security

Drivers of freshwater salt pollution such as de-icers on roads and parking lots, water softeners, and wastewater and industrial discharges further threaten freshwater ecosystem health and human water security. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3xnpGM7

Solar panels are contagious - but in a good way

The number of solar panels within shortest distance from a house is the most important factor in determining the likelihood of that house having a solar panel, when compared with a host of socio-economic and demographic variables. This is shown in a new study by scientists using satellite and census data of the city of Fresno in the US, and employing machine learning. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2QHWfDq

Unexpected presence of great white sharks in Gulf of California

A new study suggests the white shark population for the eastern north Pacific, especially those listed in the Gulf of California, might be underestimated. Researchers found that the mortality rates for these white sharks might be underestimated as well, as an illicit fishery for the species was uncovered in the Gulf of California, suggesting that fishers were killing many more white sharks than has been previously understood. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3xgPpWr

New process breaks down biodegradable plastics faster

Scientists invented a way to make compostable plastics break down within a few weeks with just heat and water. This advance will potentially solve waste management challenges at forward operating bases and offer additional technological advances for American Soldiers. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2QMwD8A

AI analysis shows two scribes wrote one of the Dead Sea Scrolls

The handwriting style is consistent throughout the Great Isaiah Scroll, a 2200-year-old document found near the Dead Sea – but AI analysis of the text confirms it was actually written by two scribes from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3n9yGzJ

Chinese air pollution data was altered, statistical analysis suggests

A statistical analysis of air pollution data gathered in Chinese cities between 2015 and 2017 has shown that discrepancies between official data and readings taken at US embassies are probably due to data being altered from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3vcO2pB

Algorithms can sway people when making online dating decisions

Recommendation algorithms seem to have the power to influence people, suggest experiments in which people used them to choose partners to date or fictional politicians to vote for from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/2QLYsO4

Covid-19 news: Vaccine likely to have slashed UK hospitalisations

The latest coronavirus news updated every day including coronavirus cases, the latest news, features and interviews from New Scientist and essential information about the covid-19 pandemic from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/2QNAlhX

More fissures are opening up at the Fagradalsfjall volcano in Iceland

This extraordinary aerial shot of a recent volcanic eruption near the city of Reykjavik in Iceland shows the fourth fissure to appear during this series of eruptions from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3aucdb8

Robot taught table etiquette can explain why it won't follow the rules

A robot that can act against its programming in order to follow human commands will speak aloud to explain its decision-making process from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3xhFSyq

Chemical code used to store Jane Austen quote in plastic molecules

It is now possible to store information in the atomic structure of plastic molecules using a hexadecimal code that allows for greater storage density than a binary system from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3avoM69

Camera traps find endangered dryas monkeys

The Endangered dryas monkey is one of Africa's most mysterious primates. They are difficult to find because they live in dense vegetation in secondary forest thickets. Using non-invasive research and no-flash camera traps from 2014 to 2019, scientists have confirmed the occurrence of the dryas monkey at seven locations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo spanning a total area of 3,453 square kilometers, based on opportunistic reports provided by local village residents and park patrols. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3tEosK7

3 million deaths: Despite new covid-19 milestone, there is hope ahead

As the world passes 3 million deaths from covid-19, New Scientist explores the pandemic's trajectory and discovers many reasons for hope that the worst will soon be over from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/32ChdpU

Energy unleashed by submarine volcanoes could power a continent

Volcanic eruptions deep in our oceans are capable of extremely powerful releases of energy, at a rate high enough to power the whole of the United States, according to new research. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3sEaOFa

Complexity of microplastic pollution

Microplastics -- small plastic pieces less than 5 millimeters in length -- are ubiquitous in the environment, and they can have significant effects on wildlife. A new study reveals that there are multiple impacts of different microplastics -- with varying sizes, shapes, and chemical makeup -- to the survival, growth, and development of larval fathead minnows, an important prey species in lakes and rivers in North America. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3xe2pvN

Climate emergency: The new science showing it’s make-or-break time

As climate talks ramp up ahead of the crucial COP26 meeting in Glasgow, new research on what our carbon emissions are doing to the planet paints a disturbing picture from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3sDHlLQ

Intergalactic review: A promising prison-break drama set in 2143

Intergalactic, a new show on Sky and streaming service NOW, follows a group who commandeer a spaceship to avoid prison. It's packed with plot and has the potential to be an exciting series from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3sG04Gq

UK should set tougher air pollution limits, says Kissi-Debrah coroner

The UK government should impose tougher limits on air pollution, in line with World Health Organization recommendations, to prevent more deaths like those of 9-year old Ella Kissi-Debrah, a coroner has urged. from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3aKIAmr

Stone skipping physics could help spacecraft land safely on water

The rate of acceleration of a stone hitting the water is key to whether or not it will skip along the surface and could be useful when designing seaplanes and spacecraft from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3egmzN2

Self-balancing bicycle can right itself even when making turns

A bike that can steer into turns and balance itself without a rider could be used by older people, those with balance issues or people learning to ride from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3eiWpcC

Designing healthy diets with computer analysis

A new mathematical model for the interaction of bacteria in the gut could help design new probiotics and specially tailored diets to prevent diseases. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3n3ECtQ

Drug development platform could provide flexible, rapid and targeted antimicrobials

Researchers have created a platform that can develop effective and highly specific peptide nucleic acid therapies for use against any bacteria within just one week. The work could change the way we respond to pandemics and how we approach increasing cases of antibiotic resistance globally. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3sBEZwP

Crucial action needed for coral reefs

An international group of scientific experts has stated the requirements for coral reef survival in a recent article. Over 500 million people rely on coral reefs. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3x5VF3b

Review summarizes known links between endocrine disruptors and breast cancer risk

Exposure to certain endocrine-disrupting chemicals could elevate the risk of breast cancer, according to a new comprehensive systematic review of epidemiological research. However, for many chemicals, evidence is inconsistent or still limited. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3tBYHtP

New catalyst for lower CO2 emissions

Perovskites have so far been used for solar cells, as anode materials or electronic components rather than for their catalytic properties. Now scientists have succeeded in producing a special perovskite that is excellently suited as a catalyst for converting CO2 into other useful substances, such as synthetic fuels. The new perovskite catalyst is very stable and also relatively cheap, so it would be suitable for industrial use. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3tF2uX6

Did you know? There is a scientific paper written on belly button lint

Chemist Georg Steinhauser collected pieces of belly-button fluff from his navel, recording their colour and weight from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3sCOHz7

Chickens and pigs with integrated genetic scissors

Genetically engineered animals provide important insights into the molecular basis of health and disease. Research has focused mainly on genetically modified mice, although other species, such as pigs, are more similar to human physiology. Researchers have now generated chickens and pigs in which target genes in desired organs can be efficiently altered. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3suvPlS

Oceanographers reveal links between migrating Gulf Stream and warming ocean waters

The Northwest Atlantic Shelf is one of the fastest-changing regions in the global ocean, and is currently experiencing marine heat waves, altered fisheries and a surge in sea level rise along the North American east coast. A new article reveals the causes, potential predictability and historical context for these types of rapid changes. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3v5Ktl7

Overgrowth of gut yeast in newborns may increase asthma risk

An overgrowth of yeast in the gut within the first few months of life may cause changes to the immune system that increase the risk of asthma later on, shows a new study. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3gn9Zyg

Covid-19 news: Further restrictions on AstraZeneca jab in Sweden

The latest coronavirus news updated every day including coronavirus cases, the latest news, features and interviews from New Scientist and essential information about the covid-19 pandemic from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3xai1jP

Tyrannosaurs may have hunted together in packs like wolves

A group of tyrannosaur fossils found in Utah were a family of dinosaurs that died together in a flood, which adds to evidence these animals may have lived and hunted together in packs from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3sBRWqD

Fearsome tyrannosaurs were social animals

The fearsome tyrannosaur dinosaurs may not have been solitary predators as popularly envisioned, but social carnivores with complex hunting strategies like wolves. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3tzD90Y

Sputnik V: Russia's vaccine is going global – how well does it work?

Non-Western vaccines are serious players in the global effort against covid-19, but we need more transparent data on their efficacy and safety as they are rolled out to millions from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3as4J8D

Stone skipping physics could help spacecraft land safely on water

The rate of acceleration of a stone hitting the water is key to whether or not it will skip along the surface and could be useful when designing seaplanes and spacecraft from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3egmzN2

Explosive gas from a gun can mask crime scene blood spatter patterns

In close-range shootings, blood droplets can spatter back towards the shooter – but vortices of gas from the fired gun can potentially prevent them landing on the shooter’s clothes from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3elKt9M

Beetles that pee themselves to death could be tomorrow's pest control

Various beetle species have gobbled through grain stores and weakened food production worldwide since ancient times. Now, researchers seek to exploit beetles' greatest strength against them -- their precisely regulated mechanism of balancing fluids. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3dxhG36

Supplement treats schizophrenia in mice, restores healthy 'dance' and structure of neurons

A simple dietary supplement reduces behavioral symptoms in mice with a genetic mutation that causes schizophrenia. After additional experiments, including visualizing the fluorescently stained dancing edge of immature brain cells, researchers concluded that the supplement likely protects proteins that build neurons' cellular skeletons. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3ekAAJt

Cool and COVID-safe: How radiant cooling could keep our cities comfortable and healthy

A novel system of chilled panels that can replace air conditioning can also help reduce the risk of indoor disease transmission, new analysis suggests. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3tBpVAO

Can extreme melt destabilize ice sheets?

Researchers have deciphered a trove of data that shows one season of extreme melt can reduce the Greenland Ice Sheet's capacity to store future meltwater - and increase the likelihood of future melt raising sea levels. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/32waazi

Little Foot fossil shows early human ancestor clung closely to trees

The fossil provides the oldest, most intact example of the shoulder of a human ancestor ever found. The bones provide telltale clues of how the individual moved and was adapted to climbing, a research team reports. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3gpo6mx

Rock glaciers will slow Himalayan ice melt

Some Himalayan glaciers are more resilient to global warming than previously predicted, new research suggests. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3dyQErU

Colour-changing beetle inspires algorithm for efficient engineering

An algorithm inspired by the way that the golden tortoise beetle changes colour to attract a mate solves engineering problems faster than other nature-inspired algorithms from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3gC5X5p

Sisters with Transistors review: Brilliant electronic music pioneers

Sisters with Transistors, directed by Lisa Rovner, celebrates the women whose breakthroughs in early electronic music laid the foundations of modern styles – and whose work has been overlooked by many from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3mZI6xy

Snake venom complexity is driven by prey diet

Diversity in diet plays a role in the complexity of venom in pit vipers such as rattlesnakes, copperheads and cottonmouths. But new collaborative research found the number of prey species a snake ate did not drive venom complexity. Rather, it was how far apart the prey species were from each other evolutionarily. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3dzCl6K

Tiny implantable tool for light-sheet imaging of brain activity

Tools for optical imaging of brain activity in freely moving animals have considerable potential for expanding the scientific understanding of the brain. However, existing technologies for imaging brain activity with light have challenges. An international team of scientists has now developed an implantable probe for light-sheet imaging of the brain. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2P3HUAR

New model describes the (scaling) laws of the jungle

Underneath the apparent messiness of forests lurk extraordinary regularities, governed by the biological mechanisms that drive universal forces of growth, death, and competition. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3swRMAN

Early deaths rising in workers using methylene chloride paint strippers

Researchers and physicians have found that early deaths of workers using methylene chloride paint strippers are on the rise. The solvent is widely used in paint strippers, cleaners, adhesives and sealants. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3v1UTST

DNA robots designed in minutes instead of days

Someday, scientists believe, tiny DNA-based robots and other nanodevices will deliver medicine inside our bodies, detect the presence of deadly pathogens, and help manufacture increasingly smaller electronics. Researchers took a big step toward that future by developing a new tool that can design much more complex DNA robots and nanodevices than were ever possible before in a fraction of the time. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2QHpFkU

Ocean currents modulate oxygen content at the equator

A study has used long-term observations to investigate the complex interplay between fluctuations in the equatorial current system and variations in oxygen content. During the last 15 years the intensification of upper-ocean currents resulted in an increasing oxygen content in the equatorial region. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3aGf6WP

Stone Age black bears didn't just defecate in the woods - they did it in a cave too

Scientists have sequenced ancient DNA from soil for the first time and the advance will transform what is known about everything from evolution to climate change. The findings have been described as the 'moon landings' of genomics because researchers will no longer have to rely on finding and testing fossils to determine genetic ancestry, links and discoveries - and it is thanks to Stone Age black bears who defecated in a remote cave in Mexico 16,000 years ago. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3sxiObc

Green hydrogen: 'Rust' as a photoanode and its limits

Researchers have now analyzed the optoelectronic properties of rust (haematite) and other metal oxides in unprecedented detail. Their results show that the maximum achievable efficiency of haematite electrodes is significantly lower than previously assumed. The study demonstrates ways to assess new photoelectrode materials more realistically. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3mZgs3y

Covid-19 news: Immunity trial will deliberately expose people to virus

The latest coronavirus news updated every day including coronavirus cases, the latest news, features and interviews from New Scientist and essential information about the covid-19 pandemic from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3akc61W

SARS-CoV-2 variants from minks evade inhibition by antibodies

Immune responses in SARS-CoV-2 patients might provide only incomplete protection against SARS-CoV-2 variants from minks. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2QjL7N7

Study reveals the workings of nature's own earthquake blocker

A new study finds a naturally occurring 'earthquake gate' that decides which earthquakes are allowed to grow into magnitude 8 or greater. Sometimes, the 'gate' stops earthquakes in the magnitude 7 range, while ones that pass through the gate grow to magnitude 8 or greater, releasing over 32 times as much energy as a magnitude 7. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3sB8fns

Who is selling and trafficking Africa's wild meat?

A new study classifies different types of wildlife traffickers and sellers in two of Central Africa's growing urban centers, providing new insight into the poorly understood urban illegal wildlife trade. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3v9idON

Ice cap study promises new prospects for accurate local climate projections

New, detailed study of the Renland Ice Cap offers the possibility of modelling other smaller ice caps and glaciers with much greater accuracy than hitherto. The study combined airborne radar data to determine the thickness of the ice cap with on-site measurements of the thickness of the ice cap and satellite data. Researchers gathered data from the ice cap in 2015, and this work has now come to fruition: More exact predictions of local climate conditions. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3ehdfse

Human land-use and climate change will have significant impact on animal genetic diversity

Researchers have made the first ever global assessment map of how future climate and land-use change impacts genetic diversity in mammals. The researchers hope the map will assist policy makers in prioritizing which areas should be preserved first. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3tzm5Ie

What does the study of domesticated birds tell us about the evolution of human language?

Language is one of the most notable abilities humans have. It allows us to express complex meanings and transmit knowledge from generation to generation. An important question in human biology is how this ability ended up being developed. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3dwEq3i

Defects in a specific cell type may cause ulcerative colitis

There are many variants of 'goblet cells' in the intestines and they seem to have different functions, according to a new study. The study indicates that defects in goblet cells of a particular type may be a factor contributing to ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/32wIbz6

Mountain high: Andean forests have high potential to store carbon under climate change

The Andes Mountains in South America are the world's longest mountain range and a hotspot of biodiversity. But the forest that climbs up this mountain range provides another important service to humanity. Andean forests are helping to protect the planet by acting as a carbon sink, absorbing carbon dioxide and keeping some of this climate-altering gas out of circulation, according to new research. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3ajZPKU

Northern Red Sea corals live close to the threshold of resistance to cold temperatures

In the northern Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba, corals have exceptionally high tolerance to increasing seawater temperatures resulting from global warming. However, climate change will also result in more variable weather patterns, including extreme cold periods. Researchers now demonstrate that a winter even 1 degree Celsius cooler than average results in a physiological stress response similar to that seen in other corals under heat stress, detailing how perilously close they live to their lower temperature threshold. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3gtmRTH

'Lost' coffee plant can resist climate change and tastes just as good

A species of coffee thought to have vanished in the 1920s has been rediscovered, and it can grow at higher temperatures than high-quality Arabica coffee but tastes as good from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3sFpuEp

UK waters are home again to the bluefin tuna

Atlantic bluefin tuna have returned to UK waters and can once again be seen during the summer and autumn months. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3dx7Gac

Why is the UK warning Facebook not to encrypt its messaging services?

Priti Patel, the UK’s Home Secretary has warned Facebook that introducing end-to-end encryption to its messaging services will make it harder for police to catch online child abuse offenders, but there are alterative solutions from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/2QHiEAY

Humans are directly influencing wind and weather over North Atlantic

A new study provides evidence that humans are influencing wind and weather patterns across the eastern United States and western Europe by releasing CO2 and other pollutants into Earth's atmosphere. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3uVQ9y2

NASA's Ingenuity craft makes first ever helicopter flight on Mars

NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter has completed its first flight on Mars, making it the first vehicle to ever fly on another planet from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/2QwGpvj

Common plants and pollinators act as anchors for ecosystems

'Generalist' plants and pollinators play a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity and may also serve as buffers against some impacts of climate change, finds new research. The findings provide valuable insights for prioritizing the conservation of species that contribute to the strength of ecological communities. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3ssVU4F

Lucy the Human Chimp review: The ape that was raised like a human

Lucy the human chimp is a documentary that follows the story of a chimp that lived like a human and a human that lived like a chimp from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3xhOTrc

New CRISPR technology offers unrivaled control of epigenetic inheritance

Scientists have figured out how to modify CRISPR's basic architecture to extend its reach beyond the genome and into what's known as the epigenome -- proteins and small molecules that latch onto DNA and control when and where genes are switched on or off. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2RCnpfn

Study reveals how some antibodies can broadly neutralize ebolaviruses

Some survivors of ebolavirus outbreaks make antibodies that can broadly neutralize these viruses -- and now, scientists have illuminated how these antibodies can disable the viruses so effectively. The insights may be helpful for developing effective therapies. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3x74jhS

Sunlight to solve the world's clean water crisis

Researchers have developed technology that could eliminate water stress for millions of people, including those living in many of the planet's most vulnerable and disadvantaged communities. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3gfbgYa

Alpine plants are losing their white 'protective coat' too early in spring

Snow cover in the Alps has been melting almost three days earlier per decade since the 1960s. This trend is temperature-related and cannot be compensated by heavier snowfall. By the end of the century, snow cover at 2,500 meters could disappear a month earlier than today, as simulations by environmental scientists at the University of Basel demonstrate. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3svRGJD

Process simultaneously removes toxic metals and salt to produce clean water

Removing salt is only one step in creating clean water from ocean or brackish water. Toxic compounds, from metals to human-made carcinogens, must be removed by subsequent processing. Chemists have invented a technique to remove salt and toxic ions in one step. They create porous nanoparticles, PAFs, with added functional groups that selectively absorb ionic compounds, like metals, or neutral species, like boron, then add them to the polymer membranes used in electrodialysis. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3ajcbCU

How to find Hydra, the biggest constellation in the sky

Named after a water snake, Hydra is a large constellation, but it isn't very bright. Finding it will take really dark skies – and tapping into some of astronomy's top visualising tips, says Abigail Beall from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3x7ia7A

Neanderthal nuclear DNA retrieved from sediments helps unlock ancient human history

Researchers have retrieved Neanderthal nuclear DNA from cave deposits in northern Spain and southern Siberia, yielding new clues to the population history of Neanderthals. With the advent of nuclear DNA analyses of sediments, similar studies at other sites can provide new insights into the deep human past that do not rely on the discovery of bones and teeth. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3mVsH1b

Deciduous trees offset carbon loss from Alaskan boreal fires

More severe and frequent fires in the Alaskan boreal forest are emitting vast stores of carbon, but new research from shows those losses are offset by the fast-growing deciduous trees that replace black spruce forests in the region. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2Q9PL04

Parasites and kelp forests

Even the mention of parasites can be enough to make some people's skin crawl. But to recent doctoral graduate these creepy critters occupy important ecological niches, fulfilling roles that, in her opinion, have too often been overlooked. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3alHsFz

Plankton genomes used as global biosensors of ocean ecosystem stress

By analyzing gains and losses in the genes of phytoplankton samples collected in all major ocean regions, researchers at have created the most nuanced and high-resolution map yet to show where these photosynthetic organisms either thrive or are forced to adapt to limited quantities of key nutrients, nitrogen, phosphorus and iron. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3aBQUF1

The whitest paint is here - and it's the coolest. Literally.

In an effort to curb global warming, engineers have created the whitest paint yet. Coating buildings with this paint may one day cool them off enough to reduce the need for air conditioning, the researchers say. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3x398J0

Environmental protection could benefit from 'micro' as well as 'macro' thinking

Scientists have conducted a study that highlights the importance of studying a full range of organisms when measuring the impact of environmental change - from tiny bacteria, to mighty whales. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/32qqnpm

Water purification system engineered from wood, with help from a microwave oven

Researchers have developed a more eco-friendly way to remove heavy metals, dyes and other pollutants from water. The answer lies in filtering wastewater with a gel material taken from plant cellulose and spiked with small carbon dots produced in a microwave oven. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3stqKtS

Plastics could see a second life as biodegradable surfactants

Scientists have discovered a chemical process that provides biodegradable, valuable chemicals, which are used as surfactants and detergents in a range of applications, from discarded plastics. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3x2dvUH

Coral reefs prevent more than $5.3 billion in potential flood damage for US property owners

Coral reefs provide many services to coastal communities, including critical protection from flood damage. A new study reveals how valuable coral reefs are in protecting people, structures, and economic activity in the United States from coastal flooding during storms. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/32kP0E6

Water scarcity footprint reveals impacts of individual dietary choices in US

A lot of attention has been paid in recent years to the carbon footprint of the foods we eat, with much of the focus on the outsize contribution of meat production and especially beef. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3x4sqxK

Experts' predictions for future wind energy costs drop significantly

Technology and commercial advancements are expected to continue to drive down the cost of wind energy, according to a new survey. Experts anticipate cost reductions of 17%-35% by 2035 and 37%-49% by 2050, driven by bigger and more efficient turbines, lower capital and operating costs, and other advancements. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3smcNhu

Study of marten genomes suggests coastal safe havens aided peopling of Americas

Research into the genomes of the American pine marten and Pacific pine marten -- weasel-like mammals that range today from Alaska to the American Southwest -- could shed light on how the first humans populated the Americas. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2OVPhtW

New 'time machine' technique to measure cells

Using a new single-cell technique, researchers have uncovered a way to understand the programming behind how stem cells make particular cell types. The research uncovered new genes that program stem cells to make the dendritic cells that kick-start the immune response. By uncovering this process, the researchers hope they will be able to find new immunotherapy treatments for cancer, and plan to expand this technique in other areas such as discovering new drug targets. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3dvR2I1

Confirmed: Island gigantism and dwarfism result of evolutionary island rule

It is an old-standing theory in evolutionary ecology: animal species on islands have the tendency to become either giants or dwarfs in comparison to mainland relatives. Since its formulation in the 1960s, however, the 'island rule' has been severely debated by scientists. Researchers solved this debate by analysing thousands of vertebrate species. They show that the island rule effects are widespread in mammals, birds and reptiles, but less evident in amphibians. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3vbyP8D

Why do so many people love android killer Murderbot?

Fugitive Telemetry, the latest instalment of the Murderbot series, shows readers still can't get enough of the killing-machine that prefers boxsets to interacting with humans. What's its secret, asks Sally Adee from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3ahw1yH

Simulations reveal how dominant SARS-CoV-2 strain binds to host, succumbs to antibodies

The dominant G-form spike protein 'puts its head up' more frequently to latch on to receptors, but that makes it more vulnerable to neutralization. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2RDa3zv

Experimental antiviral for COVID-19 effective in hamster study

The experimental antiviral drug MK-4482 significantly decreased levels of virus and disease damage in the lungs of hamsters treated for SARS-CoV-2 infection, according to a new study. MK-4482, delivered orally, is now in human clinical trials. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3wXH0Hj

With impressive accuracy, dogs can sniff out coronavirus

In a proof-of-concept study, dogs identified positive samples with 96 percent accuracy. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3adpapV

Virologists develop broadly protective coronavirus vaccines

A candidate vaccine that could provide protection against the COVID-19 virus and other coronaviruses has shown promising results in early animal testing. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3tsNMlZ

Unconventional takes on pandemics and nuclear defense could protect humanity from catastrophic failure

From engineered pandemics to city-toppling cyber attacks to nuclear annihilation, life on Earth could radically change, and soon. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3mVcg4P

Tarantula's ubiquity traced back to the cretaceous

Tarantulas are among the most notorious spiders, due in part to their size, vibrant colors and prevalence throughout the world. But one thing most people don't know is that tarantulas are homebodies. Females and their young rarely leave their burrows and only mature males will wander to seek out a mate. How then did such a sedentary spider come to inhabit six out of seven continents? from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3gi8TE0

NASA has selected SpaceX to build a lander to take humans to the moon

SpaceX has been awarded a $2.9 billion contract to build the lunar lander that will take astronauts to the surface of the moon as part of NASA's Artemis programme from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3e6fvCM

Shape-shifting Ebola virus protein exploits human RNA to change shape

A new study shows how one of Ebola virus's key proteins, VP40, uses molecular triggers in the human cell to transform itself into different tools for different jobs. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3eai7PQ

Physicists have created a new and extremely rare kind of uranium

A team of physicists in China has produced the lightest uranium atom ever, which is more than 10 per cent smaller than the most common type of uranium from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3doEB0v

Tiny cat-sized stegosaur leaves its mark

A single footprint left by a cat-sized dinosaur around 100 million years ago has been discovered in China by an international team of palaeontologists. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/32nfV1S

Transparent nanolayers for more solar power

There is no cheaper way to generate electricity today than with the sun. Solar cells available on the market based on crystalline silicon make this possible with efficiencies of up to 23 percent. With even higher efficiencies of more than 26 percent, costs could fall further. An international working group led by photovoltaics researchers now plan to reach this goal with a nanostructured, transparent material for the front of solar cells. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3gmwljz

Norovirus clusters are resistant to environmental stresses and UV disinfection

Clusters of a virus known to cause stomach flu are resistant to detergent and ultraviolet disinfection, according to new research. The findings suggest the need to revisit current disinfection, sanitation and hygiene practices aimed at protecting people from noroviruses. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2Qx15Dy

Snake species from different terrains surrender surface secrets behind slithering success

Some snake species slither across the ground, while others climb trees, dive through sand or glide across water. Today, scientists report that the surface chemistry of snake scales varies among species that negotiate these different terrains. The findings could have implications for designing durable materials, as well as robots that mimic snake locomotion to cross surfaces that would otherwise be impassable. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3ec1aEC

Grave goods show gendered roles for Neolithic farmers

Grave goods, such as stone tools, have revealed that Neolithic farmers had different work-related activities for men and women. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3agzfCC

Facebook says its AI could help find drug combinations to treat cancer

Facebook claims that its new artificial intelligence can predict the way drugs interact with each other inside cells, but other researchers say it may not translate into results that will be useful in humans from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/2QzNify

Don't Miss: Netflix teen superpower series Zero

New Scientist's weekly round-up of the best books, films, TV series, games and more that you shouldn't miss from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3e6unRq

Study strengthens links between red meat and heart disease

An observational study in nearly 20,000 individuals has found that greater intake of red and processed meat is associated with worse heart function. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3gfbvCs

Blow flies may be the answer to monitoring the environment non-invasively

A study led by researchers at IUPUI has found that blow flies may be the answer to monitoring environmental change without disturbing local wildlife. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3toLioF

Exploring 'Aquaterra', the drowned continent walked by our ancestors

A continent's worth of land inhabited by ancient people has been submerged by rising seas over the past 20,000 years. Now we're discovering its secrets from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/2Qt6dsn

The alphabet may have been invented 500 years earlier than we thought

Many researchers think the alphabet emerged in Egypt about 3800 years ago – but possible examples of alphabetic writing from a 4300-year-old site in Syria challenge that idea from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/2OZEgrK

Don't Miss: Zero, a Netflix teen superpower series

New Scientist's weekly round-up of the best books, films, TV series, games and more that you shouldn't miss from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3uWyRRy

Can the European Union prevent an artificial intelligence dystopia?

Leaked draft legislation suggests the European Union is attempting to find a “third way” on artificial intelligence regulation, between the free market US and authoritarian China from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/32fKI0u

Meteorologists can predict strength of Asian monsoon a year in advance

A climate model can reliably predict the strength of the Asian summer monsoon – and the tropical cyclone activity associated with it – more than one year ahead of time, which could help governments better prepare for damaging weather events from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3wZVshI

Robotic elephant trunk can learn new tasks on its own

A robotic elephant trunk made of a chain of motorised segments is operated by an artificial intelligence that can allow on-the-job training from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3gg92Yv

Meteorologists can predict the Asian summer monsoon a year in advance

A climate model can reliably predict the Asian summer monsoon – and the tropical cyclone activity associated with it – more than one year ahead of time, which could help governments better prepare for damaging weather events from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3genm3G

Amazing images from International Space station battle for photo prize

Stunning photos taken by astronauts on the International Space Station are competing for the public’s vote in NASA’s Tournament Earth contest from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3aeFPJN

Suffrage Science podcast salutes the achievements of female scientists

A decade ago, the Suffrage Science awards were set up to champion women in science. Now there is a podcast telling the stories of the many fascinating winners from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3e92kRu

In pig brain development, nature beats nurture

Before humans can benefit from new drug therapies and nutritional additives, scientists test their safety and efficacy in animals, typically mice and rats. But, as much as they've done for biomedical research, rodents aren't always the best research model for studies on neonatal brain development and nutrition. That's where pigs can play an important role. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2QqwO9i

How we can reduce food waste and promote healthy eating

Food waste and obesity are major problems in developed countries. They are both caused by an overabundance of food, but strategies to reduce one can inadvertently increase the other. A broader perspective can help identify ways to limit food waste while also promoting healthy nutrition, researchers suggest. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2PZv9I8

Blue Origin’s latest launch brings it close to sending humans to space

The 14 April launch of Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket may have been the spacecraft’s last test flight before it begins taking passengers to the edge of space from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3dnVQ1Q

Lipid research may help solve COVID-19 vaccine challenges

New research could help solve a major challenge in the deployment of certain COVID-19 vaccines worldwide -- the need for the vaccines to be kept at below-freezing temperatures during transport and storage. Researchers demonstrate a new, inexpensive technique that generates crystalline exoskeletons around delicate liposomes and other lipid nanoparticles and stabilizes them at room temperature. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3mOmgNe

Mystery canine illness identified: Animal coronavirus

An outbreak of vomiting among dogs has been traced back to a type of animal coronavirus by researchers. Vets across the country began reporting cases of acute onset prolific vomiting in 2019/20. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3toPwwu

Dueling evolutionary forces drive rapid evolution of salamander coloration

Two opposing evolutionary forces explain the presence of the two different colors of spotted salamander egg masses at ponds in Pennsylvania, according to a new study. Understanding the processes that maintain biological diversity in wild populations may allow researchers to predict how species will respond to global change. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3tniHjK

Switching beef for chicken could reduce water footprint of US diets

Simple dietary changes – like switching beef for chicken and peas for asparagus – may help people in the US reduce the amount of water required to put their meals on the table from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3mQ7xBr

Human cells grown in monkey embryos raise ethical concerns

Human-monkey chimeras produced by implanting human stem cells in macaque embryos could be used to study how cells develop, but some ethicists have raised concerns from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3a9ngqj

Good dental health may help prevent heart infection from mouth bacteria

Good oral hygiene and regular dental care are the most important ways to reduce risk of a heart infection called infective endocarditis caused by bacteria in the mouth. There are four categories of heart patients considered to be at highest risk for adverse outcomes from infective endocarditis, and only these patients are recommended to receive preventive antibiotic treatment prior to invasive dental procedures. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2PXqHtp

Satellite map of human pressure on land provides insight on sustainable development

The map shows a near-present snapshot of effects from deforestation, mining, expanding road networks, urbanization and increasing agriculture. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3uNK9as

RNA holds the reins in bacteria: Researchers observe RNA controlling protein synthesis

To better understand how RNA in bacteria gives rise to protein -- and potentially target these processes in the design of new antibiotics -- researchers are turning their attention to the unique way this process happens in bacteria. Researchers have directly observed previously hidden RNA regulatory mechanisms within bacteria. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3tqjWi3

Reliably measuring oxygen deficiency in rivers or lakes

Wastewater carries large quantities of organic substances into the rivers and lakes, leading to heavy growth of bacteria and oxygen deficiency. Measurement methods have so far been incapable of measuring this organic pollution precisely. A new method should provide a clear image of the water conditions in the future. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3uTVjut

Why I'm no longer writing a newsletter for Substack

Paid-for newsletters on Substack were a great innovation, but the way it has changed means I will no longer be writing for it, writes Annalee Newitz from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3sn3qxQ

Can the European Union prevent an artificial intelligence dystopia?

Leaked draft legislation suggests the European Union is attempting to find a “third way” on artificial intelligence regulation, between the free market US and authoritarian China from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/32fKI0u

How to keep your brain healthy: The 7 things you should do every day

Keeping your brain in good shape will not only stave off mental decline, but can also improve your relationships and boost your well-being – and it's never too late to make a difference from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3gdQAQq

The face mask that may be more organic than you bargained for

A face mask made from cow pat, plus Britishisms vs Americanisms and four-dimensional urban hyperspace, in Feedback’s weird weekly round-up from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/32hcnhM

Did you know? Killer whales are actually part of the dolphin family

Despite being commonly known as killer whales, Orcas are actually members of the dolphin family from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3gdqLQ8

We have overlooked a crucial cause of the world's nutrition crisis

Attempts to tackle undernutition in children around the world often overlook an important part of the puzzle, says Priti Parikh from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/2Q4CBl8

The Disordered Cosmos review: An insider take on physics and injustice

A bold new book by Chanda Prescod-Weinstein combines her love of physics with a strong analysis of the inequalities rife in science from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3shkjdn