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Showing posts from September, 2021

Cats' whiskers reveal felines favor free lunch

Domestic cats that regularly catch wild animals still get most of their nutrition from food provided at home, new research shows. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3mgGLCq

Coral microbiome is key to surviving climate change

The microbiomes of corals -- which comprise bacteria, fungi and viruses -- play an important role in the ability of corals to tolerate rising ocean temperatures, according to new research. The team also identified several genes within certain corals and the symbiotic photosynthetic algae that live inside their tissues that may play a role in their response to heat stress. The findings could inform current coral reef conservation efforts, for example, by highlighting the potential benefits of amending coral reefs with microbes found to bolster corals' heat-stress responses. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3AXrQDi

Intermittent fasting makes fruit flies live longer — will it work for people?

Intermittent fasting is a trendy weight loss strategy. A new study of fasting fruit flies shows how the diet, if properly timed, also slows the aging process and increases longevity by cleaning our cells. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/39YjIXa

Dramatic liana increases in old-growth tropical forests associated to natural disturbance and climate change

The accelerated proliferation of lianas in old-growth forest due to natural disturbance may be altering forest structure, regeneration, and functioning. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3mkfn6O

Norwegian reservoirs power homes in Great Britain via 724km cable

A subsea electricity cable in the North Sea will allow renewable electricity from Norwegian reservoirs to power 1.4 million homes in Great Britain from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/2ZB2jSz

Some female butterflies can see an extra ultraviolet colour

The females of a Central American butterfly species can see UV colours that males can't, which hints the species divides labour by sex in a way that's similar to some monkeys from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3D0C8mJ

Scientists use nuclear physics to probe Floridan Aquifer threatened by climate change

Scientists used a nuclear dating technique to study the dynamics of the Floridan Aquifer. The findings show the promise of this emerging technique to help understand geological processes and to forecast the effects of climate change on coastal aquifers. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2Y1bTxm

Study on African buffalo offers insights on persistence of highly contagious pathogens

A new study on foot-and-mouth disease among buffalo in South Africa could help explain how certain extremely contagious pathogens are able to persist and reach endemic stage in a population, long after they've burned through their initial pool of susceptible hosts. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3DfXVHt

First map of proteins in tumour cells pinpoints cancer therapy targets

Treating cancer may one day be easier using a map that reveals how hundreds of proteins interact with one another in cancer cells from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/2Y7rFqk

New analytical technique helps researchers spot subtle differences in subcellular chemistry

Researchers can now rapidly isolate and chemically characterize individual organelles within cells. The new technique tests the limits of analytical chemistry and rapidly reveals the chemical composition of organelles that control biological growth, development and disease. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3kXNqSQ

Coming off antidepressants risks relapse – but so does staying on them

People who stop taking antidepressants have a higher chance of relapsing into depression than those who continue using the medicines – but the difference isn't large from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3ilyqw4

Cell labelling method from microscopy adapted for use in whole-body imaging

Scientist have utilized so-called SNAP-tag technology to radioactively label cells in living organisms. In a proof-of-principle study they developed a SNAP-tag substrate equipped with the radioactive signal emitter fluorine-18 and used it to make tumor cells in the bodies of mice visible in PET images. The labeling method, already established in microscopy, opens up the prospect of studying cells with different imaging techniques and at different temporal stages -- for example, when inflammation begins, continues and resolves again. This may help reveal more about how the functions of individual cells and entire organs are interconnected. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2Y6CqsY

Primordial ‘hyper-eye’ discovered

Trilobites of the suborder Phacopina had a unique eye in which about 200 large lenses in each eye spanned at least six individual facets, each of which in turn formed its own small compound eye. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3om07J5

Lunar craters could reveal past collisions with ancient black holes

Black holes born in the big bang could be the dark matter physicists have sought for decades – if they exist. Now there's an audacious plan to find the scars they would have left as they punched through the moon from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/2WrgoAR

The great land heist that helped form many US universities

Many US universities are built on land obtained via dubious means, which the digitisation of records now reveals in shocking detail, writes Annalee Newitz from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3zQd9AI

Critical groundwater supplies may never recover from drought

New research shows groundwater takes an average of three years to recover from drought -- if it ever recovers at all. In the largest study of its kind, scientists found that this recovery time only applies to aquifers that aren't touched by human activity, and the recovery time might be even longer in regions with excessive pumping. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3F3xWof

Covid-19 news: Study finds benefits of teen vaccination outweigh risks

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/39WhNSY

Groundwater markets could promote solutions to the West’s water woes

Amid historic drought and changing rainfall patterns, a groundwater market in the California desert could serve as a template for the future of water management. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3il2Crr

Lunar craters could reveal past collisions with ancient black holes

Black holes born in the big bang could be the dark matter physicists have sought for decades – if they exist. Now there's an audacious plan to find the scars they would have left as they punched through the moon from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/2WrgoAR

Scientists have finally worked out the effects of consuming red wine

The strange effects of red wine, plus origami clothes that expand to fit children as they grow and a satellite the width of a vegemite sandwich, in Feedback’s weird weekly round-up from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3F675rx

The stem cell revolution isn't what you think it is

There is a stem cell revolution on the way, but it isn't the regenerative medicine some people are pushing, say John E. J. Rasko and Carl Power from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3zVYlkb

Prioritising covid vaccines for people of colour may have saved lives

Black and Indigenous people and people of colour are more at risk from covid-19, and new modelling suggests that prioritising vaccines based on race or neighbourhood in addition to age could have led to fewer deaths from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3kU6XDG

Great apes' consonant and vowel-like sounds travel over distance without losing meaning

Scientists have shown that orangutan call signals believed to be closest to the precursors to human language, travel through forest over long distances without losing their meaning. This throws into question the accepted mathematical model on the evolution of human speech. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3msmHxh

European fishing communities face their own specific climate risks

Of all European fisheries and coastal communities, the ones in the UK and the Eastern Mediterranean have the highest risk of being affected by climate change. To reduce climate risks, researchers are advising regional policy makers to focus on sustainable and diverse fisheries management. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3APcdOh

Wiggling worms suggest link between vitamin B12 and Alzheimer's

Worms lose their wiggle when they get Alzheimer's disease, but researchers found that worms fed a diet of E. coli with higher levels of vitamin B12 were given a layer of protection from the dreaded degenerative brain disease. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2Y0aRSe

Expanding the genetic code with quadruplet codons

Cells working with an expanded genetic code could make more diverse medicines. A new study shows scientists are within striking distance. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3umAloU

Prioritising covid vaccines for people of colour may have saved lives

Black and Indigenous people and people of colour are more at risk from covid-19, and new modelling suggests that prioritising vaccines based on race or neighbourhood in addition to age could have led to fewer deaths from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3kU6XDG

Japan 2011 earthquake and tsunami linked to increased risk of dementia

People aged 65 years or over who lost their homes in the 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami typically saw an increase in their rate of cognitive decline from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3kTuMeF

Team rewires a behavioral circuit in the worm using hydra parts

New research highlights the development of HySyn, a system designed to synthetically reconnect neural circuits using neuropeptides from Hydra, a small, freshwater organism, into the model organism C. elegans. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3a45eFD

Clover growth in Mars-like soils boosted by bacterial symbiosis

Clover plants grown in Mars-like soils experience significantly more growth when inoculated with symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria than when left uninoculated, researchers report. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3CXdYK2

Strikingly simple means of diagnosing ecosystem health uncovered

Scientists say the health of a terrestrial ecosystem can be largely determined by three variables: vegetations' ability to uptake carbon, its efficiency in using carbon and its efficiency in using water. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/39QffWM

How mercury gets into the sea

Mercury released into the atmosphere by industry enters the sea and from there makes its way into the food chain. Now, an analysis by the University of Basel has revealed how the harmful substance enters seawater in the first place. This is not primarily via rainfall, as previously assumed, but rather also involves gas exchange. Measures to reduce mercury emissions could therefore take effect faster than previously thought. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3F3QDrN

'Is that a bacon sandwich?' Fruit flies react to smells while asleep

Researchers have tracked flies' ability to interpret information while asleep, showing which parts of the brain remain 'awake'. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3AP6U1g

Should you get a covid vaccine booster shot if you're offered one?

As the UK and US embark on large-scale coronavirus vaccine booster programmes, the evidence so far suggests it is a good idea to get a booster shot if you are offered one from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3onFL2h

No Time To Die review: A kinder Bond takes on biochemical warfare

Daniel Craig's final Bond film sees his character faced with a missing scientist, a man with an apocalyptic vision of the world and the return of nifty gadgets from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3umJ1f6

Covid-19 news: Long covid symptoms reported in over a third of cases

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/3F5JZ4y

Secrets of a long and healthy life reside in your gut microbiome

How long you live and how well you age rests on many factors beyond your control, but the discovery that gut microbes play a key role means what you eat can make a difference from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3F0UB4y

Major ocean current could warm greatly

A new study found that the Kuroshio Current Extension is sensitive to global climate change and has the potential to warm greatly with increased carbon dioxide levels. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2Zw6gb9

Impact of human settlement on island ecosystems

Research has shed new light on the impact of humans on islands' biodiversity. The findings show how human colonization altered forest across the islands of Macaronesia including the loss of landscape authenticity. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2Wq7m7i

In Guatemala, archaeologist helps to uncover hidden neighborhood in ancient Maya city

The newly discovered structures provide game-changing evidence that the imperial power of Teotihuacan exerted considerable influence on Tikal, an ancient Maya capital, as part of a campaign of conquest. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3F34LS7

Bird feces reveals that when birds migrate, their gut bacteria change

Researchers used tiny radio trackers to follow the movements of birds that migrated between The Bahamas and Michigan, and they found that the same individual birds' gut bacteria were different in the two locations. And to figure that out, the scientists had to get up close and personal with a lot of bird feces. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3AUopNF

Dynamic twists and loops can enable DNA to modulate its function

Supercoiling and looping can transmit mechanical stress along the DNA backbone that can promote the separation of the strands of the double helix at specific distant sites, exposing the DNA bases, which may facilitate repair, replication, transcription or other aspects of DNA function. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3EYelWB

'Hell heron' dinosaur is new species found on Isle of Wight

Two new species of dinosaur have been identified from fossils found on the Isle of Wight from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/39KL5nE

Drones are 'sniffing' ship exhaust for illegal fuel in European waters

Maritime authorities in the EU are now using drones to “sniff” the exhaust fumes from ships and catch operators using illegal, sulphur-rich fuel from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3zV2q82

Small but mighty: Microgreens go from trendy vegetables to functional food

Starting decades ago as fashionable, high-value gourmet greens, today microgreens have gained popularity among consumers for their nutritional profile and high content of antioxidant compounds. Now, a new study suggests that the tiny plants have the potential to help provide global nutrition security. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3EXwqUy

Plasmodium falciparum evolving to escape malaria rapid diagnostics in Africa

A major tool against malaria in Africa has been the use of rapid diagnostic tests, which have been part of the 'test-treat-track' strategy in Ethiopia, the second most-populated country in Africa. But researchers studying blood samples from more than 12,000 individuals in Ethiopia now estimate these tests missed nearly 10% of malaria cases caused by the parasite Plasmodium falciparum, the most common cause of malaria cases and deaths. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3mdRD4e

It’s now easier to run trials testing CRISPR-edited crops in England

The UK government has lifted licensing hurdles that laboratories face when starting a field trial of gene-edited crops in England from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3olai0r

Reducing salt in bread without sacrificing taste

Most people in the U.S. consume too much salt; adult Americans typically eat twice the daily amount recommended by dietary guidelines. Bread may not seem like an obvious culprit; however, due to high consumption and relatively high salt content, baked goods are a major source of sodium in the diet. A new study from the explores ways to reduce sodium in bread without sacrificing taste and leavening ability. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3D9JoNt

Elephants strive to cooperate with allies, until the stakes get too high

Asian elephants are keen to cooperate with friends and have evolved strategies to mitigate competition in their social groups, but cooperation breaks down when food resources are limited, according to new research. The study sheds light on the evolution of cooperative behavior in mammals. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3F3n61g

57 per cent of elephants at Thai tourist facilities have nervous tics

An investigation of elephants at 20 Thai tourist facilities show that more than half of the captive animals show repetitive behaviour like swaying or head bobbing, which may be signs of anxiety or boredom from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3m9WAuC

AI may predict the next virus to jump from animals to humans

A new study suggests that machine learning using viral genomes may predict the likelihood that any animal-infecting virus will infect humans, given biologically relevant exposure. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3ihXN21

Life on Venus may have only been possible for its first billion years

Previous research suggested Venus may have been habitable for 2 to 3 billion years, but that didn’t take into account the lack of plate tectonics, which affects CO2 levels and narrows the window for life on Venus from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3ulpPyh

Living retina achieves sensitivity and efficiency engineers can only dream about

'Efficient coding theory' describes the most perfect, low-energy way to design a light-detecting device for a future camera or prosthetic retina. Or you could just look at a mammalian retina that's already organized this way. In a pair of papers on retinal structure, a team of neurobiologists has shown that the rigors of natural selection and evolution shaped our retinas to capture noisy data just as this theory of optimization would prescribe. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3EY3hsr

Exoplanet in a triple star system may orbit all three at once

Astronomers have spotted hints of a planet that orbits a distant system of three stars – if confirmed, it will be the first time such a world has been found from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3ibWBwP

Unbreakable glass inspired by seashells

Scientists develop stronger and tougher glass, inspired by the inner layer of mollusk shells. Instead of shattering upon impact, the new material has the resiliency of plastic and could be used to improve cell phone screens in the future, among other applications. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3AL2wAm

Additional threat to Antarctica’s floating ice shelves

Ice melange, a slushy mixture of snow and ice chunks, can heal large rifts in Antarctica's ice shelves. Researchers found that a thinning of ice melange may have enabled a Delaware-sized iceberg to break off from the Larsen C ice shelf in 2017. A new article has the scientists' analysis of the dynamics behind large iceberg calving events. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3ocwJF9

Dinosaurs’ ascent driven by volcanoes powering climate change

The rise of dinosaurs coincided with environmental changes driven by major volcanic eruptions over 230 million years ago, a new study reveals. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/39L4rcs

Crayfish get more interesting at bigger parties

In many North American lakes, a tiny clawed creature has become a big bully. The invasive rusty crayfish roams lakebeds, snapping up snails, bivalves, and water plants, cutting off food supplies for native crayfish and other animals. And when they're feeling saucy, some mount daring raids on fish eggs, reducing sport-fish populations. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3iexsSx

Male giraffes are more socially connected than females

Although female giraffes have closer 'friends' than male giraffes, male giraffes have more 'acquaintances' than females, according to new research. The study demonstrates that giraffes form a complex multilevel society that is driven by differences in the social connections among individuals, which could have conservation implications for the endangered giraffes. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3EV3tZz

Answering a century-old question on the origins of life

The missing link isn't a not-yet-discovered fossil, after all. It's a tiny, self-replicating globule called a coacervate droplet, developed by researchers to represent the evolution of chemistry into biology. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3oaOg0p

Thinning moderates forest fire behavior even without prescribed burns – for a while

Mechanical thinning alone can calm the intensity of future wildfires for many years, and prescribed burns lengthen thinning's effectiveness. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3zMYtlY

25-million-year-old ancient eagle ruled the roost in Australia

A 25-million-year-old eagle fossil found in South Australia adds to the long evolutionary history of raptors in Australia. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3of5jyn

Covid-19 news: Younger children in England less willing to get vaccine

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/3ofIY3O

Spacecraft could detect signs of life on Saturn's moon Enceladus

Plumes of water shot into space by Enceladus, the icy moon of Saturn, may contain molecular signs of alien life, and a spacecraft could collect them from orbit from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3kNXQ7j

AI is helping US Air Force to decide which targets to strike

The US Air Force has used an AI as part of its "kill chain" - the process of gathering intelligence and directing weapons to destroy a target - though details of the incident are limited from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3zO5hj1

Antarctic seal numbers rose and fell with climate over 50,000 years

DNA suggests the Antarctic fur seal population has grown and shrunk as the climate has warmed and cooled, and this might help predict where the mammal will move in future from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3AN0Zty

Creating order by mechanical deformation in dense active matter

Living or biological systems cannot be easily understood using the standard laws of physics, such as thermodynamics, as scientists would for gases, liquids or solids. Living systems are active, demonstrating fascinating properties such as adapting to their environment or repairing themselves. Exploring the questions posed by living systems using computer simulations, researchers have now discovered a novel type of ordering effect generated and sustained by a simple mechanical deformation, specifically steady shear. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3ufpywW

Sunlight exposure guidelines may need to be revised

Previously published solar exposure guidelines for optimal vitamin D synthesis based on a study of skin samples may need to be revised. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2ZsK9SW

Case of anthrax in wildlife in the Namib Desert: Infected zebra most likely causes death of three cheetahs

Anthrax is an infectious bacterial disease endemic in some parts of Africa. It affects people, livestock as well as wildlife. Using GPS telemetry data, a team of scientists reconstructed a special case of anthrax infection in Namibia: Three free-ranging cheetahs in the Namib Desert died within 24 hours after feeding on a mountain zebra that tested positive for the disease. The zebra is the first described case of a wild animal infected with anthrax in this arid region. The case also shows that there might be previously unknown risks to cheetah populations in the desert. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3CW9149

Amazonian protected areas benefit both people and biodiversity

Highly positive social outcomes are linked to biodiversity efforts in Amazonian Sustainable-Use Protected Areas, according to new research. The study investigated the social consequences of living both inside and outside Sustainable-Use Protected Areas containing aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems in Brazil's state of Amazonas. Researchers used data from more than 80 local semi-subsistence communities along a 2,000-km section of the Juruá River, the second-longest tributary of the Amazon River. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3m6V2S2

Late Pleistocene humans may have hatched and raised cassowary chicks

As early as 18,000 years ago, humans in New Guinea may have collected cassowary eggs near maturity and then raised the birds to adulthood, according to an international team of scientists, who used eggshells to determine the developmental stage of the ancient embryos/chicks when the eggs cracked. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3m5WTGY

Mystery of ancient burrows older than earliest animals has been solved

Ancient animal burrows in rocks once thought to be 1.2 billion years old have been re-examined, and were likely made 40 to 50 million years ago by crustaceans from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3AMN1In

N95 respirators could offer robust protection from wildfire smoke

N95 respirators offer the best protection against wildfire smoke and other types of air pollution, performing better than synthetic, cotton and surgical masks. N95s were so effective in the lab experiments that the researchers estimate their widespread use could reduce hospital visits attributable to wildfire smoke by 22% to 39%. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3kHrXxc

Withdrawal from psychostimulants restructures functional architecture of brain

Researchers describe how withdrawal from nicotine, methamphetamine and cocaine alters the functional architecture and patterns in the brains of mice, compared to control animals, a key to developing addiction treatments. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3AHukWl

Oxygen and water for lunar explorers can be extracted from moon rocks

A device that bakes moon rocks to temperatures above 1000°C can efficiently extract water and oxygen from the dirt, which could be helpful for future lunar explorers from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3kMeKTM

Weird hybrid meteorite may be evidence of a chaotic early solar system

Jupiter’s early orbit had a wobble that may have flung asteroids from the inner and outer solar system into each other, creating hybrid rocks such as the Nedagolla meteorite that fell in India in 1870 from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/39EItHW

Germany’s new coalition government may boost climate change action

Against a backdrop of climate change protests across German cities, the centre-left Social Democratic party narrowly won the election and now plans to create a coalition to tackle climate change from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3APP12g

Parasite evolution is making it harder to detect and treat malaria

In parts of Africa up to 80 per cent of malaria parasites have evolved to evade detection by the rapid tests used to determine if people need treatment from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3ukuv7x

Limiting warming to 1.5°C may save billions from tropical storms

Between 2015 and 2100, if the world follows a 1.5°C global warming trajectory instead of a 3.1°C one it would mean 1.8 billion fewer people will experience a tropical storm in their lifetime from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3EWlbLX

Watching SARS-CoV-2 spread in animal models in real time

New 'reporter viruses' developed by researchers make it much easier to observe SARS-CoV-2 and its variants in cells and live animals in the lab, enabling faster screening of potential anti-viral drugs, vaccines and neutralizing antibodies. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3EUrm3b

Reducing tropical cyclone impacts: The double benefit of climate protection through both limiting and delaying global warming

Increasing global warming from currently one to two degrees Celsius by mid-century might lead to about 25 percent more people put at risk by tropical cyclones, a new study finds. Already today, hurricanes and typhoons are among the most destructive natural disasters worldwide and potentially threaten about 150 million people each year. Adding to climate change, population growth further drives tropical cyclone exposure, especially in coastal areas of East African countries and the United States. Considering the joint impact of climate change and population growth provides an untapped potential to protect a changing world population. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3icwFBs

Hyena scavenging provides public health and economic benefits to African cities

Hyenas are frequently vilified and often feared. Hemingway once described the hyena as a stinking, foul devourer of the dead, with jaws that crack the bones the lion leaves. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2WjyoNC

Hungry or full: It comes down to the atomic details

A protein - measuring just a few nanometers in size - acts as a molecular switch with a crucial role in determining whether we feel hungry or full. By determining of the protein's 3D structure, researchers were able to visualize the molecular structures of the hormones with which this protein -- melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) -- interacts. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3CVPEbv

Taking the guesswork out of genetic engineering

If necessity is the mother of invention, frustration is the father. When scientists kept running into aggravating problems with the existing tools and methods they were using to perform genetic engineering experiments, they decided to make better ones. They teamed up and created an integrated pipeline called STAMPScreen that combines novel algorithms, a new gene cloning technique, and powerful next-generation sequencing technology to help scientists get from a database to results quickly, easily, and frustration-free. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2Y3CQAW

Learning helps tobacco hawkmoths to select a nectar source and oviposition site more efficiently

Researchers have gained new insights into the learning ability of tobacco hawkmoths. In two recent publications, they report that learning odors does not only play a role in foraging, but that female moths are also influenced by previously learned odors when choosing a host plant to lay their eggs. In this context, a single deposited egg on a certain plant is sufficient for the moth's choice to visit the same plant species again even after 24 hours. In contrast, the moth's second nose, the tip of the proboscis on which olfactory sensory cells have also been identified, does not appear to play a role in learning odors and making odor-guided foraging decisions. The results provide clues to the adaptability of these insects to their environment. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3AOq4Em

Children with more books at home have less mental decline when older

Older people who had large home libraries as children perform better in memory tests, possibly because early cognitive enrichment helps to buffer the brain from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/39EHis7

Covid-19 news: Antibodies remain in breast milk months after infection

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/2XRrWxE

The UK energy crisis shows why it is time to look beyond fossil fuels

The gas crisis fatally undermines the argument that fossil fuels provide a stable, economically viable solution to satisfying our future energy needs from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3zIGdtN

US army to 3D print concrete buildings and bridges in disaster areas

The US Army Corps of Engineers has developed technology that can 3D print buildings in disaster areas, and there are plans for the world’s first 3D-printed vehicle bridge from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3lWqHpk

Smartphone sensor data has potential to detect cannabis intoxication

A smartphone sensor, much like what is used in GPS systems, might be a way to determine whether or not someone is intoxicated after consuming marijuana, according to a new study. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3zE7ldj

How to sous vide steak using a beer cooler box

Cooking sous vide offers a route to perfection via precisely controlled temperatures. Here's how to do it at home, no gadgets necessary from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3AI1Hs7

In the race to reduce car emissions, don't forget longevity

The debate on green vehicles often focuses on fuel efficiency and alternative fuels, with the transition to fuel alternatives commonly being considered better for the environment the faster it is. A new study shows that keeping and using existing fuel-efficient cars a little longer can actually reduce CO? emissions even with gasoline cars. Thus, a gradual transition and policies that encourage a change in consumption patterns are also key for reducing overall emissions. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2XPYCrv

Machine learning uncovers 'genes of importance' in agriculture and medicine

Machine learning can pinpoint 'genes of importance' that help crops to grow with less fertilizer, according to a new study. It can also predict additional traits in plants and disease outcomes in animals, illustrating its applications beyond agriculture. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3D0rL2z

Coastal Northeastern US is a global warming hotspot; 2 degrees Celsius of summer warming has already occurred

New research reveals not only that the coastal Northeast -- from Maine to Delaware -- is heating faster than most regions of North America, but that this heating is linked to drastic alterations in the ocean and atmospheric conditions over the North Atlantic. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3F1OM75

Psychonauts 2 review: A fun yet sensitive take on mental health

A perilous journey through the dark corners of the human mind, Psychonauts 2 somehow manages to be as entertaining as it is empowering, writes Jacob Aron from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/39yZ9AA

Ada Twist, Scientist review: Brilliant children's TV for the curious

Netflix's adaptation of the bestselling picture book series Ada Twist, Scientist will be loved by children and provoke a smile from even the most jaded parents from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3zA4Zwc

The origin and legacy of the Etruscans

Researchers present comprehensive ancient DNA data retrieved from peoples culturally affiliated with the iconic Etruscans, settling a long-lasting debate on the origins of this highly skilled and enigmatic culture. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3CNBRmW

Guiding microbes along their path

The direction of movement of a microbe directly depends on the curvature of its environment, according to new findings. The researchers investigated the navigation of a model microbe, a small self-propelling microalga, in confined compartments with different shapes. They also developed theoretical models to predict the probability flux of that microswimmer which was confirmed by experiments. With this model available, it is now possible to pre-define the average trajectory of such microbes by manipulating the curvature of the compartments which directly affects their movement. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3kFVc3o

Over 120 scientific experts’ global ocean report shows unprecedented climate change impact, as Arctic registers record low ice levels

Arctic ice levels logged in the last two years have reached record lows, whilst per decade have -- on average since 1979 to 2020 -- dropped by nearly 13%, a new vast report on the ocean worldwide shows. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3ADAYgc

A third of the world's food goes to waste – here's how to stop the rot

Food waste isn't just morally objectionable; it also produces vast amounts of greenhouse gases. But this is one food fight we can win, with simple actions at home and new tech in industry from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3o09Cxr

Simple make-up tips can help you avoid face recognition software

AI software identifies which areas of your face you should subtly change with make-up to fool facial recognition technology – and it works 98.8 per cent of the time from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/2XTrUWk

Fire and Ice review: A fascinating tour of weird space volcanoes

Natalie Starkey's new book will make you rethink what you thought you knew about how volcanoes around our solar system look, what they do and what comes out of them when they erupt from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3CGXqWj

Foundation review: Isaac Asimov TV adaptation is imaginative reworking

Apple TV's adaptation of Isaac Asimov’s Foundation series stays true to the big ideas, but sensibly nixes the 1940s sexism from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3zzMqbn

Earliest evidence of human activity found in the Americas

Footprints at White Sands National Park in New Mexico confirm human presence over at least two millennia, with the oldest tracks dating back 23,000 years. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3lZOa9k

Systems approach helps assess public health impacts of changing climate, environmental policies

Scientists offer an alternative way to understand and minimize health impacts from human-caused changes to the climate and environment. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3EJnwdc

New York waters may be an important, additional feeding area for large whales

A new study finds that that some large whale species (humpback, fin and minke whales) use the waters off New York and New Jersey as a supplemental feeding area feasting on two different types of prey species. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3ADmT2q

Researchers provide a framework to study precision nutrigeroscience

There are many forms of dietary restriction and their health benefits are not 'one size fits all.' Researchers provide a framework for a new personalized sub-specialty: precision nutrigeroscience, based on biomarkers affected by genetics, gender, tissue, and age. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3u5mT8M

If endangered primates disappear, so will their parasites. That's actually a problem

People are more aware of the plight of endangered gorillas than of gorillas' gut worms, and are understandably more enamored with mouse lemurs than their mites. Half of the world's roughly 500 primate species are at risk of extinction due to human activities such as hunting, trapping and deforestation. But the demise of the world's threatened primates could also trigger even more extinctions for the parasites that lurk within them, finds a new study. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3AxSceZ

More support needed for pollination services in agriculture

The global decline of pollinators threatens the reproductive success of 90 per cent of all wild plants globally and the yield of 85 per cent of the world's most important crops. Pollinators -- mainly bees and other insects -- contribute to 35 per cent of the world's food production. The service provided by pollinators is particularly important for securing food produced by the more than two billion small farmers worldwide. An agroecologist points out that yields could be increased if pollinators were encouraged. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3EMllFP

Vampire bats may coordinate with ‘friends’ over a bite to eat

Vampire bats that form bonds in captivity and continue those 'friendships' in the wild also hunt together, meeting up over a meal after independent departures from the roost, according to a new study. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3u5eZMV

An estrogen receptor that promotes cancer also causes drug resistance

Cancer cells proliferate despite a myriad of stresses -- from oxygen deprivation to chemotherapy -- that would kill any ordinary cell. Now, researchers have gained insight into how they may be doing this through the downstream activity of a powerful estrogen receptor. The discovery offers clues to overcoming resistance to therapies like tamoxifen that are used in many types of breast cancer. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3o3nhUA

Intensified water cycle slows down global warming

A new study shows that the intensification of global hydrological cycle drives more ocean heat uptake into the deep ocean and moderates the pace of global warming. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2Wbge0u

Desert teamwork explains global pattern of co-operation in birds

A new study from the Kalahari Desert finds that teamwork allows birds to cope with brutally unpredictable environments. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/39BaVul

Researchers mimic how water and wind create complex shapes in nature

Researchers have found a way to mimic the natural processes that create complex shapes and landscapes with the help of a vibrating plate and resulting energy fields. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2XLl30Z

Decoding birds’ brain signals into syllables of song

Researchers can predict what syllables a bird will sing -- and when it will sing them -- by reading electrical signals in its brain, reports a new study. The work is an early step toward building vocal prostheses for humans who have lost the ability to speak. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3o7zx6x

Carbon dioxide reactor makes 'Martian fuel'

Engineers are developing new ways to convert greenhouse gases to fuel to address climate change and get astronauts home from Mars. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3zBtmJU

Breast cancers: Ruptures in cell nuclei promotes tumor invasion

When cells multiply and migrate, they can be compressed and their nucleus may break open. This phenomenon causes DNA damage. Scientists have now shown that this facilitates the spread of cancer cells in breast tumors. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3u85M6z

Engineers introduce a new approach for recycling plastics

Engineers have come up with a revolutionary new method for tackling plastic pollution by harnessing the inner workings of proteins. The result? A whole new way of looking at plastic recycling. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2W7dgKp

Ancient DNA analysis sheds light on dark event in medieval Spain

Researchers used ancient DNA analysis to identify a member of a population expelled from medieval Spain known as the 'Segorbe Giant'. The results have shed light on the brutal political decision that led to a dramatic change in population following the Christian reconquest of Spain. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3lRApt8

Adjusting fatty acid intake may help with mood variability in bipolar disorders

Can specific dietary guidelines help people living with bipolar disorders better manage their health? Clinical trial results showed that a diet designed to alter levels of specific fatty acids consumed by participants may help patients have less variability in their mood. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3zETyDk

Deadly virus’s pathway to infect cells identified

Researchers have discovered how Rift Valley fever virus enters cells, pointing the way to new therapies to treat deadly Rift Valley fever. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3EOLpQq

Covid-19 news: US approves booster vaccines for over-65s

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/3AB9k3z

Why stop at imperial? It’s time to bring back the British thermal unit

A return to old measurements, plus the best harbour from a comparison viewpoint and angler behaviour during the pandemic, in Feedback’s weird weekly round-up from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3zA73nK

The black hole paradox that thwarts our understanding of reality

Black holes devour stuff and then shrivel away over billions of years. Explaining what happens to anything that falls in explodes our current theories of physics, says cosmologist Paul Davies from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3o4TUAW

Changing how drugs are approved in England mustn't endanger safety

Plans to change how medicines are assessed by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence mustn't weaken safety precautions, says Clare Wilson from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/2Zjk6NX

Dune review: Action aplenty, but a lack of depth and emotion

Denis Villeneuve's big-budget remake boasts a stellar cast and spectacular effects, yet the big scenes fail to deliver on the deeper ecological and anti-colonial message of the novel from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3u4pdwN

Sex and the symbiont: Can algae hookups help corals survive?

Scientists have discovered that symbiotic single-celled algae that live inside of and feed corals can reproduce not only by mitosis, but also sexually. Encouraging sex in these algae can accelerate their evolution to produce strains better able to help reefs cope with climate change. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/39wuRhK

How a city’s design creates congestion

City planners predict that as more people move into urban areas, traffic jams will get worse. That's why sustainability experts propose a new way to analyze traffic congestion. Using more precise measures to describe the shape of cities and considering other socioeconomic factors, the model, which was applied to nearly 100 American cities, could lead to a better understanding of the link between congestion and land use. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3lUbEwx

Metals supercharge promising method to bury harmful carbon dioxide under the sea

Researchers have found a way to supercharge the formation of carbon dioxide-based crystal structures that could someday store billions of tons of carbon under the ocean floor for centuries, if not forever. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2ZhxwKl

How proteins help yeast adapt to changing conditions

Proteins in the brain called prions are well known for their involvement in causing disease, but a new study suggests they may help yeast cope with rapidly changing environmental conditions. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/39Azes5

Sticking to low-fat dairy may not be the only heart healthy option, study shows

New research amongst the world's biggest consumers of dairy foods has shown that those with higher intakes of dairy fat - measured by levels of fatty acids in the blood - had a lower risk of cardiovascular disease compared to those with low intakes. Higher intakes of dairy fat were not associated with an increased risk of death. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2ZrXrzn

Those earrings are so last year – but the reason you're wearing them is ancient

Shell beads found in a cave in Morocco are at least 142,000 years old. The archaeologists who found them say they're the earliest known evidence of a widespread form of human communication. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3EKfJMn

Birds flocked to North American cities during covid-19 lockdowns

Dozens of bird species became more abundant in 93 urban centres across the US and Canada when covid-19 restrictions cut noise and pollution from traffic from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3kx4cb1

Dinosaurs may have waggled their tails to help walk more efficiently

A computer reconstruction of a small two-legged dinosaur suggests it ran more efficiently if it waggled its tail from side to side with every step from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3zyMHv2

Wind energy can deliver vital slash to global warming

Implementing advance wind energy scenarios could achieve a reduction in global warming atmospheric average temperatures of 0.3 to 0.8 degrees Celsius by the end of the century, according to new research. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3AzTztI

Early Homo sapiens groups in Europe faced subarctic climates

Using oxygen stable isotope analysis of tooth enamel from animals butchered by humans at the site of Bacho Kiro Cave, Bulgaria, researchers show that human groups belonging to an early wave of dispersal of our species into Europe were faced with very cold climatic conditions while they occupied the cave between about 46,000 and 43,000 years ago. Archaeological remains at Bacho Kiro Cave currently represent the oldest known remnants of Upper Palaeolithic Homo sapiens in Europe, and thus open a unique window into the time when our species started to move out of the Levant and establish itself across the mid latitudes of Eurasia as part of an archaeological phenomenon called the Initial Upper Palaeolithic. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3CC9g4e

Engineers discover way to turn organic waste into renewable biofuel additives using radiation

The renewable proportion of petrol is set to increase to 20 per cent over the coming years, meaning the discovery of a new production pathway for these additives could help in the fight to cut carbon dioxide emissions and tackle climate change. Engineers propose a process to generate one such additive, solketal, using waste from both biochemical and nuclear industries -- termed a nuclear biorefinery. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3u1EFdb

Poorly circulated room air raises potential exposure to contaminants by up to six times

Having good room ventilation to dilute and disperse indoor air pollutants has long been recognized, and with the COVID-19 pandemic its importance has become all the more heightened. But new experiments show that certain circumstances will result in poor mixing of room air, meaning airborne contaminants may not be effectively dispersed and removed by building level ventilation. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2XKijRU

How can we prevent and reduce food waste?

Around one third of all food produced globally goes to waste, the vast majority being thrown into landfill sites where it is left to rot away from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3zxq4ay

Genetic regulation of blood cells: Proximity of a gene to a genetic change plays an important role

Researchers have gained significant new insight into the genetic regulation of blood cells. They achieved this by analyzing a dataset that included more than 31,000 study participants, to date the largest dataset of its kind. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3nZgJpF

Dog parasite is developing resistance to treatments

Right now, U.S. veterinarians rely on three types of drugs to kill the hookworms, but the parasites appear to becoming resistant to all of them. Dog hookworms can also infect humans. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3kz4VbU

Functioning of terrestrial ecosystems is governed by three main factors

A large international research team has identified three key indicators that together summarize the integrative function of terrestrial ecosystems: 1. the capacity to maximize primary productivity, 2. the efficiency of using water, and 3. the efficiency of using carbon. The monitoring of these key indicators will allow a description of ecosystem function that shapes the ability to adapt, survive and thrive in response to climatic and environmental changes. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3hTts9G

Global cancer risk from burning organic matter comes from unregulated chemicals

Scientists have found that benzo(a)pyrene, traditionally measured to gauge risk of developing cancer from exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), is a poor proxy for this type of cancer risk. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2XGVFcJ

Blowing up medieval gunpowder recipes

First used for battle in China in about 900 A.D., gunpowder spread throughout Eurasia by the end of the 13th century, eventually revolutionizing warfare as a propellant in firearms and artillery. Meanwhile, master gunners tinkered with gunpowder formulas, trying to find the ideal concoction. Now, researchers have recreated medieval gunpowder recipes and analyzed the energies released during combustion, revealing that the evolution of the perfect powder was a slow, trial-and-error process. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2XEj6TQ

Infants have more microplastics in their feces than adults

Microplastics -- tiny plastic pieces less than 5 mm in size -- are everywhere, from indoor dust to food to bottled water. So it's not surprising that scientists have detected these particles in the feces of people and pets. Now, in a small pilot study, researchers have discovered that infants have higher amounts of one type of microplastic in their stool than adults. Health effects, if any, are uncertain. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/39szERr

Hoverflies navigate using sun and body clock

Hoverflies use a combination of the sun and their body clock to navigate when they fly south for the winter, new research shows. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2XzGdPs

WHO calls for lower limits on air pollution to save millions of lives

The World Health Organization has released guidelines for strict limits on air pollution from cars, power stations and other sources. If countries adopt them, millions of deaths could be avoided from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3CAzmV5

The black hole paradox that thwarts our understanding of reality

Black holes devour stuff and then shrivel away over billions of years. Explaining what happens to anything that falls in explodes our current theories of physics, says cosmologist Paul Davies from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3o4TUAW

Covid-19 news: Record cases in school children in England

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/3AzwNSy

La Palma volcano eruption: Warning signs may have been there for years

Over the past decade, minuscule land movements and strange chemical signals may have been clues that the Cumbre Vieja volcano on La Palma island was going to erupt from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3krZB9V

Melbourne rocked by Victoria's biggest earthquake on record

A record magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck in a remote part of Victoria, Australia, on 22 September, damaging buildings in Melbourne but not causing any fatalities from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3CxonMf

River research reveals scale of macroplastic pollution

Plastic pollution clogs river systems for considerably longer than previously thought, new research shows. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3o2Moqe

Regulator proteins or symphonies of genes: Statistical modeling points way toward unified theory for DNA folding

Researchers seek to point a way toward a unified theory for how DNA changes shape when expressing genes. The scientists use an approach called statistical mechanics to explore the phenomenon of so-called expression waves of gene regulation. The group hopes to reconcile a long-standing gulf between the two scientific fields most involved in the topic, using concepts common to biology and physics. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3hRCnIU

Carbon fibers electrical measurements pave way for lightning strike protection technologies

Carbon fiber reinforced polymer composite structures are important in several industries, yet the electrical behavior of a composite is challenging to measure or predict because of the electrical conductivity of constituent carbon fibers and the composite's complex hierarchical microstructure. Researchers report a direct measurement of the transverse electrical resistivity of a single carbon fiber. The researchers combined a precise sample preparation with a technique called the van der Pauw method to accomplish this challenging measurement. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3Avwg4j

Researchers use exosome-based strategy to block HIV in mice

Researchers used exosomes, tiny nanoparticles capable of being taken up by cells, to deliver novel protein into the cells of mice infected with HIV. The protein attached to HIVs' genetic material and prevented it from replicating, resulting in reduced levels of HIV in the bone marrow, spleen, and brain. The study paves the way for the development of novel delivery systems for suppressing HIV. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2ZefKrn

Four dinosaurs discovered in Montana

A team of paleontologists excavated four dinosaurs in northeastern Montana this summer. The four dinosaur fossils are: the ilium -- or hip bones -- of an ostrich-sized theropod, the group of meat-eating, two-legged dinosaurs that includes Tyrannosaurus rex and raptors; the hips and legs of a duck-billed dinosaur; a pelvis, toe claw and limbs from another theropod that could be a rare ostrich-mimic Anzu, or possibly a new species; and a Triceratops specimen consisting of its skull and other fossilized bones. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3EIaInc

Is your child a fussy eater?

New research is providing a better understanding of what influences fussy eaters, and what is more likely to increase or decrease picky eating in children under 10. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3ielCI7

La Palma volcano eruption: Warning signs may have been there for years

Over the past decade, minuscule land movements and strange chemical signals may have been clues that the Cumbre Vieja volcano on La Palma island was going to erupt from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3krZB9V

Roman-era mixers and millstones made with geology in mind

A study on stone tools from an outpost of the Roman Empire has found that for ancient bakers and millers, having the right tools was a matter of geology. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3CpVbGW

Records from Lake Magadi, Kenya, suggest environmental variability driven by changes in Earth’s orbit

Rift Valley lakes within eastern Africa range from freshwater to highly alkaline systems and are homes to diverse ecosystems. These Rift Valley lakes are also sedimentary repositories, yielding a high-resolution environmental record that can be targeted to better understand the environmental and climatic context of human evolution over the past few million years in eastern Africa. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3u2ZDZ5

SpaceX’s Inspiration4 marks a shift towards privacy for space tourists

The Inspiration4 mission was the first orbital space flight to carry only private passengers and was mostly not broadcast publicly, a surprising change from the space agency transparency from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/2ZdaUKZ

'Beach ball' representations calculated for US underground nuclear tests can aid monitoring

Researchers have calculated moment tensors for 130 underground nuclear and 10 chemical test explosions that took place at the Nevada National Security test site. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/39serqG

Darwin’s short-beak enigma solved

Biologists discovered that a mutation in the ROR2 gene is linked to beak size reduction in numerous breeds of domestic pigeons. Surprisingly, different mutations in ROR2 also underlie a human disorder called Robinow syndrome. The ROR2 signaling pathway plays an important role in the craniofacial development of all vertebrates. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2XxLNlm

Antibiotic levels measurable in breath

A team of engineers and biotechnologists has shown in mammals that the concentration of antibiotics in the body can be determined using breath samples. The breath measurements also corresponded to the antibiotic concentrations in the blood. The team's biosensor -- a multiplex chip that allows simultaneous measurement of several specimens and test substances -- will in future enable personalized dosing of medicines against infectious diseases on-site and help to minimize the development of resistant strains of bacteria. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3nQfWHL

Limiting the impacts of technology materials for the low carbon transition

Researchers have demonstrated how a detailed 'cradle to grave' evaluation at the outset of new metal mining explorations can greatly mitigate against negative environmental impacts. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3u6WZli

Scientists find a key to hepatitis C entry into cells

Scientists describe the structure of a key protein on the surface of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) and how it interacts with its receptor found on some human cells. The findings provide new leads for developing an HCV vaccine. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2XM0bqD

Quantum supremacy has been achieved by a more complex quantum computer

A quantum computer made by researchers in China has outperformed classical computers, achieving what is known as quantum supremacy with a more complex quantum processor than ever before from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3ktixFy

Drone helps researchers find fresh water in the sea at Easter Island

Researchers have demonstrated the effectiveness of using drones to locate freshwater sources at Easter Island. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2XLX81x

How do cells acquire their shapes? A new mechanism identified

A multi-disciplinary team has discovered and characterized a new mechanism that a simple yeast cell uses to acquire its shape. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/39lJbK9

Elephants benefit from having older siblings, especially sisters

A study of semi-captive Asian elephants in Myanmar has found that calves benefit from having older sisters more than older brothers. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2XCHd5T

Japanese Knotweed extract could cut cancer risk of processed meat

Scientists have developed processed red meat that includes added natural substitutes which reduces the carcinogenic compound nitrite added to preserve meats. The range of sausages and hams had a mixture of plants and fruits added to them which included rosemary, green tea, and resveratrol -- an extract taken from Japanese Knotweed. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3EChWZY

Early long-distance trade links shaped Siberian dogs

Analysis of ancient canine DNAs reveals that the inhabitants of Arctic Siberia began importing dogs from Eurasia some 2000 years ago. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3o7H4ST

Coral reef biodiversity predicted to shuffle rather than collapse as climate changes

Most coral reef biodiversity consists of tiny organisms living deep within the three-dimensional reef matrix. New research reveals that the species which dominate experimental coral reef communities shift due to climate change, but the total biodiversity does not decline under future ocean conditions of warming and acidification predicted by the end of the century. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3lNsFIs

Covid-19 news: Recorded US death toll reaches that of 1918-19 flu

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/3hSPGZD

Stroke rehab should be offered for months longer than it currently is

People who have had a stroke are generally given physiotherapy for around a month, but those who received extra treatment saw improved physical ability, against the received wisdom that only early intervention helps from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3Cw7h1m

We can now bioengineer catnip instead of extracting it from plants

Catnip contains a chemical that makes a highly effective insect repellent, but extracting it from plants is expensive. Now it can be produced using genetically engineered yeast from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3EFW7Zs

Modern activities follow the contours of ancient Teotihuacan

A lidar mapping study shows ancient residents of Teotihuacan moved astonishing quantities of soil and bedrock for construction and reshaped the landscape in a way that continues to influence the contours of modern activities in this part of Mexico. The paper also shows how Teotihuacan's engineers re-routed two rivers to align with points of astronomical significance, identified hundreds of previously unknown architectural features, and documented over 200 archaeological features that have been destroyed by mining and urbanization since the 1960s. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3lBo5gs

Research guides future of plastic waste chemical recycling

New research aims to ease the process of chemical recycling -- an emerging industry that could turn waste products back into natural resources by physically breaking plastic down into the smaller molecules it was originally produced from. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3CsaC1e

Loss of picky-eating fish threatens coral reef food webs

The networks of predator fish and their prey found on coral reefs all over the world are remarkably similar, and those predator fish are pickier eaters than previously thought. These delicate ecosystems become even more vulnerable when these specialized hunters go extinct. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3tUqfLX

New computational platform to study biological processes

Scientists have launched a unique software that is able to perform highly complex simulations of a variety of biological processes. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3koKu12

South American musical instruments reflect population relationships

A new study provides a systematic review of musical instrument diversity in the archaeological and ethnographic history of the continent, suggesting cultural contact over long geographic distances, and cases of recent extinction. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3u4heA4

Conservation study: Fostering wanderlust benefits pandas

New study shows home sweet home can be too sweet for some wildlife, and easing conservation standards can benefit both wildlife and people. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2Z4X8Kn

Stroke rehab should be offered for months longer than it currently is

People who have had a stroke are generally given physiotherapy for around a month, but those who received extra treatment saw improved physical ability, against the received wisdom that only early intervention helps from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3Cw7h1m

Behold the humble water flea, locked in a battle of mythological proportions

Biologists sized up an unlikely natural phenomenon: when parasitism actually causes the number of hosts to increase, an effect known as a hydra effect. A study of common water fleas and their fungal parasites includes laboratory components and an analysis of 13 fungal epidemics in nature. The scientists use consumer-resource theory to explain why -- and in what types of systems -- the hydra effect can occur. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3nOevJV

How pruning the cytoskeleton moves the cell

Cells are characterized to be stable yet highly flexible. They constantly modify their shape and even move through tissue. These vital properties are based on a dynamically organized network of branched actin filaments, which generates pushing forces to move the cell membrane. An interdisciplinary team has now revealed a previously unknown mechanism, explaining how stopping the growth of older actin filaments within the network promotes the formation of new ones, thereby maintaining the structure and function of the cytoskeleton, much like proper pruning of hedges in the garden. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3tVJqot

Lessons from how bats resist COVID could inform new treatments in humans

A new paper explores the idea that studying bats' responses to SARS-CoV-2 may provide key insights into how and when to best use existing therapies for COVID-19, and to develop new treatments. The paper is a major review of how the virus that has caused the current pandemic wreaks havoc on the human immune system. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3tXyUwU

Covid-19 News: Booster invitations will be sent to over 50s in England

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/3EDVlwq

How resistant germs transport toxins at molecular level

In order to counter the increasing threat posed by multi-drug resistant germs, we need to understand how their resistance mechanisms work. Transport proteins have an important role to play in this process. Scientists have now described the three-dimensional structure of transport protein Pdr5, found also in a similar form in pathogenic fungi. The results could help develop mechanisms to combat dangerous pathogens. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3nQ4wDL

Extreme volcanism did not cause the massive extinction of species in the late Cretaceous

A new study rules out that extreme volcanic episodes had any influence on the massive extinction of species in the late Cretaceous. The results confirm the hypothesis that it was a giant meteorite impact what caused the great biological crisis that ended up with the non-avian dinosaur lineages and other marine and terrestrial organisms 66 million years ago. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3CoTVDK

Augmented reality helps tackle fear of spiders

Researchers have developed an augmented reality app for smartphones in order to help people reduce their fear of spiders. The app has already shown itself to be effective in a clinical trial, with subjects experiencing less fear of real spiders after completing just a few training units with the app at home. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3EBYZqk

Blame fossil fuels, not renewables, for the UK's winter energy crisis

Rising gas prices mean the UK is facing a difficult winter and some people are keen to point the blame at the shift to renewables - but relying on fossil fuels will always lead to cyclical crises from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3zofzGr

Maps of planetary nurseries will help the complex hunt for alien life

Five planetary nurseries have been chemically mapped in the most detail ever, showing hints of unexpected variety and high concentrations of the chemicals required for life from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/39lr5rz

Covid-19 has laid bare social inequities – now is the time to fix them

The pandemic has shone a light on the gap in life chances between and within generations, but as we build back, the chance is ripe to address this from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/39nXSMy

The BepiColombo spacecraft is about to make its first Mercury fly-by

The BepiColombo mission will pass within about 200 kilometres of the surface of Mercury in October, where it will measure the planet’s magnetic field and exosphere from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3kqY6c0

Quantum computer helps to design a better quantum computer

Quantum computers can simulate quantum circuits, which helps to speed up the design of new quantum processors from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3zqfORa

Help create a global map of light pollution by gazing at the night sky

Scientists are tracking light pollution and its effects globally by gazing at the night sky – and now the Globe at Night project needs your help from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3zhsmuk

Yeast and bacteria together biosynthesize plant hormones for weed control

Plants regulate their growth using hormones, including a group called strigolactones that prevent excessive budding and branching. Strigolactones also help plant roots form symbiotic relationships with microorganisms that allow the plant to absorb nutrients from the soil. These two factors have led to agricultural interest in using strigolactones to control the growth of weeds and root parasites, as well as improving nutrient uptake. These root-extruding compounds also stimulate germination of witchweeds and broomrapes, which can cause entire crops of grain to fail, making thorough research essential prior to commercial development. Now scientists have synthesized strigolactones from microbes. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3EwCpiT

Now we’re cooking with lasers

Imagine having your own digital personal chef; ready to cook whatever you want, tailoring the shape, texture, and flavor just for you -- all at the push of a button. Engineers have been working on doing just that, using lasers for cooking and 3D printing technology for assembling foods. In their new study they discovered that laser-cooked meat shrinks 50% less, retains double the moisture content, and shows similar flavor development to conventionally cooked meat. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3AmV9yJ

Plants evolved complexity in two bursts -- with a 250-million-year hiatus

A new method for quantifying plant evolution reveals that after the onset of early seed plants, complexity halted for 250 million years until the diversification of flowering plants about 100 million years ago. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3Cru664

Ancient DNA rewrites early Japanese history -- modern day populations have tripartite genetic origin

Researchers have extracted Ancient DNA from human bones to re-write early Japanese history by underlining that modern day populations in Japan have a tripartite genetic origin -- a finding that refines previously accepted views of a dual genomic ancestry. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3CuuRLX

Karmalink review: An intriguing mix of Buddhism and nanotech

A young boy uses nanotechnology to decipher the clues in his dreams in Karmalink, an original sci-fi drama set in a near-future version of Cambodia from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3lHu3N0

Quantitative assessment for sustainable agriculture

Scientists have assembled a quantitative assessment for agriculture sustainability for countries around the world based not only on environmental impacts, but economic and social impacts, as well. The Sustainable Agriculture Matrix, or SAM, provides independent and transparent measurements of agricultural sustainability at a national level that can help governments and organizations to evaluate progress, encourage accountability, identify priorities for improvement, and inform national policies and actions towards sustainable agriculture around the globe. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3Es1T0Q

The microbial molecule that turns plants into 'zombies'

A newly discovered manipulation mechanism used by parasitic bacteria to slow down plant aging, may offer new ways to protect disease-threatened food crops. Research has identified a manipulation molecule produced by Phytoplasma bacteria to hijack plant development. When inside a plant, this protein causes key growth regulators to be broken down, triggering abnormal growth. The new findings show how the bacterial protein known as SAP05 manipulates plants by taking advantage of some of the host's own molecular machinery. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3EDPuam

Coral reefs are 50% less able to provide food, jobs, and climate protection than in 1950s, putting millions at risk

The capacity of coral reefs to provide ecosystem services such as food and jobs, relied on by millions of people worldwide, has declined by half since the 1950s, according to a new study. Other findings are equally bleak: the authors found that global coverage of living corals had declined by about half since the 1950s and consequently, the diversity of species had also declined, by more than 60 per cent. Finding targets for recovery and climate adaptation would require a global effort, while also addressing needs at a local level, authors say. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3u2Npjr

Gut bacteria might be an indicator of colon cancer risk

Researchers are finding a link between the increased presence of certain bacteria in a gut biome and colon cancer. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3kjvEsy

The BepiColombo spacecraft is about to make its first Mercury flyby

The BepiColombo mission to Mercury will pass within about 200 kilometres of the surface of Mercury in October, where it will measure the planet’s magnetic field and exosphere from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3CmEax9

Chemical discovery gets reluctant seeds to sprout

Seeds that would otherwise lie dormant will spring to life with the aid of a new chemical. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3tNkNul

How do higher waves cause more ice clouds? Research expedition into arctic sea explains

Global warming is causing a rapid decline in sea-ice area, which affects weather patterns and, surprisingly, increases wave height in the Arctic. In a new study, Japanese scientists analyzed data from a 2018 research expedition into Chukchi Sea to demonstrate the peculiar link that exists between sea spray induced by high waves and the formation of ice-containing clouds. Their results pave the way for more accurate climate change and sea-ice models. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3kjDouU

Fossil: New species of otter discovered in Germany

Researchers have discovered a previously unknown species of otter from 11.4-million-year-old strata at the Hammerschmiede fossil site. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2XtRKzB

Discovery of liquid directional steering on a bio-inspired surface

Inspired by a kind of tree leaf, scientists discovered that the spreading direction of different liquids deposited on the same surface can be steered, solving a challenge that has remained for over two centuries. This breakthrough could ignite a new wave of using 3D surface structures for intelligent liquid manipulation with profound implications for various scientific and industrial applications, such as fluidics design and heat transfer enhancement. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3zehvBm

Climatically driven landscape evolution during warm periods

Scientists have researched the stability and development of landscapes in the Wendland region of Hanover during the past Eemian Interglacial (warm period) around 120,000 years ago. The Eemian is climatically comparable to predictions for the later 21st century. The basic research therefore serves to understand how landscapes respond to climate changes under natural conditions -- without additional human influence. As part of their investigations, the researchers also found evidence of the northernmost Neanderthal occupation of the last warm period to date. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3EqL1HV

Microneedles pierce biofilm for more effective topical delivery of antibiotics to infected wounds

An engineer has developed a microneedle array that punctures biofilm covering ulcerated cells and tissues. The needles deliver antibiotics to the wounds by absorbing liquid underneath the biofilm and then dissolving. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3zm25uG

For some peptides, killing bacteria an inside job

Scientists study the dynamics of the immune system's antimicrobial peptides, which attack and eliminate harmful bacteria. They find peptides that invade bacteria and do their damage from the inside are underrated. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3lBC6KV

Climate change threatens base of polar oceans’ bountiful food webs

The cold polar oceans give rise to some of the largest food webs on Earth. And at their base are microscopic, photosynthetic algae. But human-induced climate change, a new study suggests, is displacing these important cold-water communities of algae with warm-adapted ones, a trend that threatens to destabilize the delicate marine food web and change the oceans as we know them. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3zjGx21

Newly discovered two-cell color detection system of lamprey as clue to the evolution of color vision

Using the lamprey, researchers analyzed the photosensory mechanism of the pineal organ, also called the pineal gland, in non-mammalian vertebrates and discovered a novel mechanism of pineal color discrimination (two-cell system) in which two types of photoreceptor cells, each containing two different opsins, are used to detect color. This discovery may provide insight into the evolution of color detection in other animals, including color vision in humans. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3nK5d1h

Index, a history of the: Exploring the rivalries in how we search

Index, A history of the by Dennis Duncan will take you from 13th-century cloisters to Silicon Valley in its exploration of how we search for information from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/2VMmziz

COVID-19 virus is evolving to get better at becoming airborne, new study shows

A new study finds that SARS-CoV-2 is evolving toward more efficient aerosol generation, and loose-fitting masks provide significant but only modest source control. Until vaccination rates are very high, continued layered controls, including improved ventilation, increased filtration, UV air sanitation, and tight-fitting masks are critical to protect people in public-facing jobs and indoor spaces, researchers urge. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3EnT1Jz

Urban stormwater study finds little difference between managed, unmanaged flows

At a time when many municipalities are seeking to control urban stormwater by investing heavily in green infrastructure -- such as water-quality ponds, infiltration basins, porous pavement and riparian plantings -- a new study suggests that these expensive efforts may not have much of an impact. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3hEMGQu

Jaws; or, how an African ray-finned fish is helping to rethink the fundamentals of evolution

A family of fishes, called the cichlids, in Africa's Lake Malawi is helping researchers refine our understanding of how evolution works. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3hF4IC0

'Blue food revolution' to tackle climate change and malnutrition

An unprecedented review of the aquatic foods sector has uncovered how fisheries and aquaculture can play a greater role in delivering healthy diets and more sustainable, equitable and resilient food systems around the world. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2Xp949z

Low oxygen levels are pushing fish into shallower waters, with potentially devastating impacts for fisheries and ecosystems

Fish can drown. While it may not seem like it, fish do require oxygen to breathe; it's just that they get what they need from the oxygen dissolved in water rather than in the air. Too little oxygen spells trouble for our finned friends, which have to move or else suffer ill effects. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/39eT0JO

Researchers infuse bacteria with silver to improve power efficiency in fuel cells

A team of engineers and chemists has taken a major step forward in the development of microbial fuel cells -- a technology that utilizes natural bacteria to extract electrons from organic matter in wastewater to generate electrical currents. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2Z6iwz2

Study reveals gophers’ biofluorescence

You can learn a lot about animals by simply watching them. But some secrets can only be revealed in the dark ... with an ultraviolet flashlight. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3keqFcQ

Good for groundwater – bad for crops? Plastic particles release pollutants in upper soil layers

In agriculture, large quantities of nano- and microplastics end up in the soil through compost, sewage sludge and the use of mulching foils. The plastic particles always carry various pollutants with them. However, they do not transport them into the groundwater, as is often assumed. Environmental geoscientists have now determined that the plastic particles release the pollutants in the upper soil layers: they do not generally contaminate the groundwater, but have a negative effect on soil microbes and crops. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2Z99SzX

Researchers explore promising treatment for MRSA 'superbug'

A new study has found the antimicrobial properties of certain stem cell proteins could offer a potential treatment to reduce infection in skin wounds. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3AkfFjx

Here are the Astronomy Photographer of the Year winners

These images of the sun, the moon and the planets of the solar system took some of the top prizes in this year’s Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/2XvFcZ3

Friend or foe? Researchers investigate the mysterious microbes living inside corals

In a new article, researchers describe investigations into an enigmatic group of coral-infecting microbes. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2VNRtHx

Giant Waikato penguin: School kids discover new species

A giant fossilized penguin discovered by New Zealand school children has been revealed as a new species. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2Xwdf3i

Reforestation could help save coral reefs from catastrophe

Increasing reforestation efforts in coastal regions could substantially reduce the amount of sediment run-off reaching coral reefs and improve their resilience, a new study has found. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3tJ9P96

Ancient bone tools found in Moroccan cave were used to work leather, fur

When researchers first started to look at animal bones from Contrebandiers Cave, Morocco, they wanted to learn about the diet and environment of early human ancestors who lived there between 120,000 and 90,000 years ago. But they soon realized that the bones they had found weren't just meal scraps. They'd been shaped into tools, apparently for use in working leather and fur. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2XwKzqW

Fossil bird with fancy tail feathers longer than its body

Peacock tails are just one example of how evolution walks a line between favoring traits that make it easier to survive, and traits that make it easier to find a mate. In a new study, scientists have found evidence of this age-old conundrum in the form of a fossil bird from the Early Cretaceous with a pair of elaborate tail feathers longer than its body. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3kgZlL6

Better fibers: Fireproof and comfortable

A new chemical process turns cotton into a fire-resistant fabric that nevertheless retains the skin-friendly properties of cotton. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2Xs2WwA

Australian wildfires triggered massive algal blooms in Southern Ocean

Smoke and ash from the 2019-20 Australian wildfires triggered widespread algal blooms in the Southern Ocean thousands of miles downwind, a new study finds. The study is the first to conclusively link a large-scale response in marine life to fertilization by iron aerosols from wildfire emissions. It raises intriguing questions about the role wildfires may play in spurring the growth of marine phytoplankton and how that may affect oceanic carbon uptake and productivity. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/39cqubx

What lies beneath: Volcanic secrets revealed

Lava samples have revealed a new truth about the geological make-up of the Earth's crust and could have implications for volcanic eruption early warning systems, a new study has found. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/399IFie

Mystery microbes have been lurking unsuspected in most coral species

Corals are full of symbiotic organisms but biologists have found a new form of microbe that doesn't seem to benefit its hosts from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/39dt9SA

Leaf-inspired material makes different liquids flow in opposite ways

Inspired by a type of spiky evergreen leaf, researchers have come up with a material that forces different fluids to flow in opposite directions – even uphill from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3lCquYq

3D analysis of SARS-CoV-2 reveals clues on virus tactics

By combining all available data on the coronavirus's 3D shape, researchers have revealed new clues on how it evades human immune detection and replicates. Their new resource may help researchers stay ahead of new variants. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3nCHS1J

Making musical performances safer in the era of COVID-19

Researchers have studied aerosol production from playing wind instruments, singing and acting, allowing them to develop recommendations to minimize COVID transmission. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/397lSDC

Milk enabled massive steppe migration

The long-distance migrations of early Bronze Age pastoralists in the Eurasian steppe have captured widespread interest. But the factors behind their remarkable spread have been heavily debated by archaeologists. Now a new study provides clues regarding a critical component of the herders' lifestyle that was likely instrumental to their success: dairying. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3zh9ifH

‘Whoop’ – new autonomous method precisely detects endangered whale vocalizations

One of the frequently used methods to monitor endangered whales is called passive acoustics technology, which doesn't always perform well. In the increasingly noisy ocean, current methods can mistake other sounds for whale calls. This high 'false positive' rate hampers scientific research and hinders conservation efforts. Researchers used artificial intelligence and machine learning methods to develop a new and much more accurate method of detecting Right whale up-calls -- a short 'whoop' sound that lasts about two seconds. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/39cz5eh

Life-sized camel carvings in Northern Arabia date to the Neolithic period

A new study uses a wide range of methods to date the heavily eroded reliefs, and connecting them to a period in which a green Arabia was home to monument-building pastoralists. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3hDqfLr

Roads have far-reaching impact on chimpanzees

Roads have a negative impact on chimpanzee populations that can extend for more than 17 km, new research shows. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2YVm473

Natural cycles in the Gulf of Alaska accentuate ocean acidification

New research shows that the fluctuations of major wind and ocean circulation systems can temporarily accelerate or reverse the rate of ocean acidification in the Gulf of Alaska. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3tIp1Dn

Primate mothers may carry infants after death as a way of grieving, study finds

Some primate species may express grief over the death of their infant by carrying the corpse with them, sometimes for months, according to a new UCL-led study - with implications for our understanding of how non-human animals experience emotion. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3hypeUY

Study shows protein that reverses aging of skeletal muscle

A research team has shown that a protein named for the mythical land of youth in Irish folklore is effective at reversing aging in skeletal muscle cells. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3luJ5Fr

Gut microbiota influences the ability to lose weight

Gut microbiota influences the ability to lose weight in humans, according to new research. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3lsZkTx

Novel technology makes studying gene function easier, faster and more efficient

Researchers have developed a drug-based genetic platform that enables scientists to track genetic manipulations in the laboratory fruit fly without having to screen thousands of individual flies. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3nymmv3

Rapid increase in global light pollution

Global light pollution has increased by at least 49% over 25 years, new research shows. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3EoKTsf

Solar cells with 30-year lifetimes for power-generating windows

A new transparency-friendly solar cell design could marry high efficiencies with 30-year estimated lifetimes, new research has shown. It may pave the way for windows that also provide solar power. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3kdP1Ub

Scientists can now assemble entire genomes on their personal computers in minutes

Scientists have developed a technique for reconstructing whole genomes, including the human genome, on a personal computer. This technique is about a hundred times faster than current state-of-the-art approaches and uses one-fifth the resources. The study allows for a more compact representation of genome data inspired by the way in which words, rather than letters, offer condensed building blocks for language models. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3z9LvOB

The ozone hole over the South Pole is now bigger than Antarctica

Each year between August and October, the ozone over the South Pole is depleted – this year the hole is larger than 75 per cent of the holes that had formed by this point in the season since 1979 from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3EwdsUW

Cheap covid-19 antibody test shows if you have immunity in 5 minutes

A cheap and accurate test that can tell if people have covid-19 antibodies could be used to monitor population immunity from past infections as well as vaccines from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3EiNfJf

Fixing protein production errors lengthens lifespan

Reducing naturally occurring errors in protein synthesis (production) improves both health and lifespan, finds a new study in simple model organisms. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3EvX8nd

Modern snakes evolved from a few survivors of dino-killing asteroid

A new study suggests that all living snakes evolved from a handful of species that survived the giant asteroid impact that wiped out the dinosaurs and most other living things at the end of the Cretaceous. The authors say that this devastating extinction event was a form of 'creative destruction' that allowed snakes to diversify into new niches, previously filled by their competitors. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3EnHlqc

Species in polar regions hard hit by climate change

Many species will become extinct as a consequence of global warming. This is the prediction of a mathematical model. The simulations show that climate change will have a particularly large impact on ecosystems in polar regions, mirroring changes that can already be seen in the natural world. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2Xss6f6

Jet stream changes could amplify weather extremes by 2060s

The ribbon of fast winds familiar to air travelers between North America and Europe is a big influencer on weather in North America and Europe. By drilling deep into the Greenland Ice Sheet, researchers reconstructed the jet stream's past and found that climate-caused disruptions are likely to have drastic weather-related consequences for societies on both sides of the Atlantic. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3AivOWI

Caught in a web: Study reveals that immune cells cooperate to trap and kill bacteria

Like a spider trapping its prey, our immune system cells cooperate to capture and 'eat' bacteria. The newly identified antibacterial mechanism could inspire novel strategies for combating Staphylococcus aureus (staph) and other extracellular bacterial pathogens. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3Aelf7d

Astronomers may have found a moon orbiting a rogue planet with no star

Exomoons are notoriously hard to spot, but it may be easier around free-floating planets that don't orbit stars – and a team of astronomers may have already found one from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3kbRMFi

Probiotic-containing yogurt protects against microbiome changes that lead to antibiotic-induced diarrhea

Eating yogurt containing a particular strain of a well-studied probiotic appears to protect against harmful changes in the gut microbiome that are associated with antibiotic administration. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2XiZODx

Concentration of microparticles in lakes reflect nearby human activity and land use

A new study suggests that microparticle concentrations in lakes are higher than previously reported, and that human activity and surrounding land use may be a strong predictor of microplastics and anthropogenic fiber pollution. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/398c38i

Creative exploration followed by exploitation can lead to a career’s greatest hits

By using artificial intelligence to mine big data related to artists, film directors and scientists, researchers have found that years of exploration (studying diverse styles or topics) immediately followed by years of exploitation (focusing on a narrow area to develop deep expertise) can lead to a career's greatest hits. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3tMBsOr

Uncertainty on climate change in textbooks linked to uncertainty in students

A new study suggests textbook wording that portrays climate change information as uncertain can influence how middle and high school students feel about the information, even for students who say they already know about climate change and its human causes. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3zhAoTU

Covid-19 news: England could see 2000 to 7000 hospitalisations a day

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/3nAUxC4

Younger generations are the most fatalistic about climate change

A survey carried out by New Scientist and King’s College London shows that just one in five Baby Boomers say there is no point in changing their behaviour to tackle climate change because it won't make any difference, compared with a third of Generation Z from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3AgdTQq

New climate plans fall far short of limiting global warming to 1.5°C

The gap between the emissions reductions needed for 1.5°C and countries' pledges has closed by up to 15 per cent - but Climate Action Tracker finds cuts are still far short of what is needed from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/2XlLx97

New ocean temperature data help scientists make their hot predictions

So many climate models, so little time ... A new way of measuring ocean temperatures helps scientists sort the likely from unlikely scenarios of global warming. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2XoPU3v

How genetic islands form among marine molluscs

Usually, the individuals of a population of marine species that have the potential to disperse over long distances all share a similar genetic composition. Yet every now and then, at small, localized sites, small groups of genetically different individuals suddenly appear within populations for a short period of time. A new study explains how this chaotic formation of genetic islands can occur in marine molluscs. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3zclLBd

Study provides basis to evaluate food subsectors' emissions of three greenhouse gases

A new, location-specific agricultural greenhouse gas emission study is the first to account for net carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide emissions from all subsectors related to food production and consumption. The work could help identify the primary plant- and animal-based food sectors contributing to three major greenhouse gas emissions and allow policymakers to take action to reduce emissions from the top-emitting food commodities at different locations across the globe. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3nviefe

Researchers discover hormonal regulatory module for root elongation

Plants respond to mild nitrogen deficiency by elongating their lateral roots. In this way, more nitrogen can be absorbed than before. Researchers have now discovered a hormonal regulatory module that mediates the molecular processes of this adaptation. Brassinosteroids and auxins play a central role in this. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3AevRCW

Compound hazards pose increased risk to highly populated regions in the Himalayas

Urbanization trends in the Himalaya are exposing more people to risk from compound hazards such as flooding, landslides and wildfires, a new study has found. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3nDZj21

Study explores link between earthquakes, rainfall and food insecurity in Nepal

The effects of monsoon rainfall on food insecurity in Nepal vary by earthquake exposure, with regions that experienced both heavy earthquake shaking and abundant rainfall more likely to have an inadequate supply of nutritious food, according to new research. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3hAocYy

When predators matter! Study of voles on Arctic island advances knowledge of small-mammal population dynamics

A decades-long study of introduced voles on the Norwegian islands of Svalbard is helping to answer a longstanding puzzle of Arctic ecology -- what drives the well-established population cycles of small Arctic mammals, such as voles and lemmings. These plant-eating rodents are among the most populous Arctic mammals. The results suggest the importance of predators as a primary factor driving the cycles, and shows that bottom-up, herbivore-plant interactions fail to generate their usual population cycles. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3Cie3Yt

Ancient spiders locked in amber died looking after their offspring

Modern spiders are known to be devoted parents, and ancient spiders trapped in 99-million-year-old amber seem to have cared for their young too from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3z5Rx2U

Physical distance may not be enough to prevent viral aerosol exposure indoors

Eighteen months ago, stickers began to dot the floors of most shops, spaced about six feet apart, indicating the physical distance required to avoid the COVID-19 virus an infected person may shed when breathing or speaking. But is the distance enough to help avoid infectious aerosols? from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3nwPjY2

New DNA-based chip can be programmed to solve complex math problems

A novel chip automates the reaction cascades occurring between molecules inside DNA to carry out complex mathematical calculations. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3nzTe6n

Prehistoric humans rarely mated with their cousins

At present-day, more than ten percent of all global marriages occur among first or second cousins. While cousin-marriages are common practice in some societies, unions between close relatives are discouraged in others. In a new study, researchers investigated how common close parental relatedness was in our ancestors. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3Egr6Lz

Memory killer T cells are primed in the spleen during influenza infection

CD8+ T cells -- known as "killer" T cells -- are the assassins of the immune system. Once they are primed, they seek out and destroy other cells that are infected with virus or cells that are cancerous. Priming involves dendritic cells -- sentinels of the immune system. In an influenza infection in the lungs, for example, lung-migratory dendritic cells capture a piece of the viral antigen, and then migrate out of the lung to the place where naïve T cells reside, to present that antigen to the CD8+ T cells. This primes the T cells to know which cells to attack. The place for the priming in influenza had long been thought to be restricted to a single anatomical site -- the lung-draining, mediastinal lymph nodes that lie between the lungs and the spine. This lymph node-centric paradigm now has been challenged. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3nMhjaz

When wolves are at the door – what communities need to get on with new neighbors

Large carnivore populations are expanding across Europe and experts are calling for increased support for communities to encourage harmonious relationships with their new neighbors. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3tGl16d

Hormonal hazard: Chemicals used in paints and plastics can promote breast tumor growth

The increasing use of photoinitiators, especially in medical settings, has raised concerns about their adverse effects on human health. Now, scientists have shown that three photoinitiators -- 1-HCHPK, MBB, and MTMP -- show estrogen-like activity in mice and increase the growth of breast cancer tumors in these animals. Their results warn against the use of such chemicals in medical instruments like containers and call for the prompt development of safer alternatives. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3tGnHRg

Sharon Peacock interview: How we track down new coronavirus variants

Sharon Peacock leads a group of researchers who started sequencing the genome of the coronavirus in March 2020 and identified the rise of the delta variant in the UK from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3z8CkOn

Piles of animal dung reveal the location of an ancient Arabian oasis

Analysis of fossilised faeces from rock hyraxes shows that the extremely dry area of Wadi Sana in Yemen was once a lush oasis from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3hzltyx

One water bucket to find them all: Detecting fish, mammals, and birds from a single sample

In times of exacerbating biodiversity loss, reliable data on species occurrence are essential. Environmental DNA (eDNA) - DNA released from organisms into the water - is increasingly used to detect fishes in biodiversity monitoring campaigns. However, eDNA turns out to be capable of providing much more than fish occurrence data, including information on other vertebrates. A study demonstrates how comprehensively vertebrate diversity can be assessed at no additional costs. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3nF3VEK

The vampire that doesn’t suck blood: New parasite-host relationships in Amazonian candirus

Scientists report a vampire fish attached to the body of an Amazonian thorny catfish. Very unusually, the candirus were attached close to the lateral bone plates, rather than the gills, where they are normally found. Since the hosts were not badly harmed, and the candirus apparently derived no food benefit, scientists believe this association is commensalistic rather than parasitic. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3985F16

Jaguars face major threat from Amazon deforestation and fires

Prospects for South America's biggest wild cat are likely to get worse in the short term unless the Brazilian government strengthens protections against deforestation for timber and cattle farming from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3k80bcL

Time to shine: Scientists reveal at an atomic scale how chlorine stabilizes next-gen solar cells

Researchers have imaged the atoms at the surface of the light-absorbing layer in a new type of next-generation solar cells, made from a crystal material called metal-halide perovskite. Their findings have solved a long-standing mystery in the field of solar power technology, showing how power-boosting and stability-enhancing chlorine is incorporated into the perovskite material. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3Ehg88I

SpaceX is about to send the first ever all-amateur mission into orbit

SpaceX’s Inspiration4 launch, planned for 15 September, will mark the first time a flight into orbit has been crewed exclusively by people who are not professional astronauts from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3hwzOf0

Astronauts could use their blood and urine to make Martian concrete

Mixing materials extracted from their own blood and urine with native Martian soil could let astronauts produce a type of concrete for building a colony from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3lqCFqO

Male rodents with less time to breed grow bigger testes

Male rodents in species with shorter breeding seasons tend to have larger testes, probably because the time pressure increases sperm competition between males from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/2Xgqi96

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)

NASA’s planned successor to the Hubble Space Telescope from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3EfQbGI

Shifting jet stream due to warming could threaten Europe from 2060

Changes in the position of the polar jet stream around the Arctic may have caused past famines in Europe, and global warming could lead to even bigger changes from around the 2060s from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3hvXDDP

Scientists claim that overeating is not the primary cause of obesity

A perspective article challenges the 'energy balance model,' which says weight gain occurs because individuals consume more energy than they expend. According to the authors, 'conceptualizing obesity as a disorder of energy balance restates a principle of physics without considering the biological mechanisms underlying weight gain.' The authors argue for the 'carbohydrate insulin model,' which explains obesity as a metabolic disorder driven by what we eat, rather than how much. *Public health messaging exhorting people to eat less and exercise more has failed to stem rising rates of obesity and obesity-related diseases. *The energy balance model, which says weight gain is caused by consuming more energy than we expend, "restates a principle of physics without considering the biological mechanisms driving weight gain." *The carbohydrate-insulin model makes a bold claim: overeating doesn't cause obesity; the process of getting fat causes overeating. ...

Socio-economic status of children can influence microorganisms in their digestive tract

Findings suggest that a family's socio-economic status (SES) may influence children's composition of gut microbiome -- the mix of microscopic organisms within the digestive tract. SES includes economic resources such as education, income and occupation, and are reflected in living conditions, nutrition and psychosocial stress, according to the study, which focused on the education levels of mothers and fathers. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3hrXHnU

Past fires may hold key to reducing severity of future wildfires in western US

Previous fires may hold the key to predicting and reducing the severity of future wildfires in the western United States as fire activity continues to increase, according to researchers. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3Eoz1qq

Personality matters, even for squirrels

Humans acknowledge that personality goes a long way, at least for our species. But scientists have been more hesitant to ascribe personality to other animals. A study has now documented personality in golden-mantled ground squirrels, which are common across the western U.S. and Canada. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3AahOhU

Tissue abnormalities found in oysters years after Deepwater Horizon oil spill

Tissue abnormalities found in economically and ecologically important Eastern oysters along the Gulf Coast years after Deepwater Horizon oil spill. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3lfCkay