BREAKING NEWS: Science (2)

Dianne Feinstein's cause of death hasn't been disclosed, but it likely wasn't dementia

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 23:28:45 +0000

No cause of death has been disclosed for Dianne Feinstein, who struggled with evident health problems. But doctors doubt it was dementia.

Why finding alien life in Universe is now 'only a matter of time'

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 23:20:01 +0000

Experts are optimistic of detecting life signs on a faraway world within our lifetimes - possibly in the next few years.

A Third of Medicaid Recipients With Opioid Use Disorder Aren’t Getting Medication to Treat It

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 23:01:50 +0000

A new analysis also found wide disparities in age and race, with Black and young people receiving treatments at far lower rates than white and middle-aged people.

What black holes can teach us about daily life

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 21:00:25 +0000

Black holes may contain the masses of more than a billion suns, but they also hold a few lessons that we humans can apply to everyday life.

Scientists and volunteers work together to monitor annual butterfly migration

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 21:00:00 +0000

The annual butterfly migration is underway. For decades scientists have relied on volunteers to tag butterflies to provide details about their journey.

FDA Wants to Oversee Lab Tests It Says Put Patients ‘At Risk’

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 19:04:06 +0000

Genetic testing that reveals potential cancer risks or other maladies with no regulatory oversight is among the targets of the agency’s proposed review.

World's Largest 'Corpse' Flower Is on the Brink

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 19:00:00 +0000

Rafflesia arnoldi is the world's largest single flowering plant, with a bloom more than three feet wide. Dubbed "corpse flower" or "stinking corpse lily," it's also incredibly smelly due to the foul odor—something like rotting flesh—it emits to attract carrion flies for pollination. Unfortunately, a new study finds...

Most Authors of Major Superconductor Claim Seek Retraction

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 18:31:59 +0000

Eight of the 11 authors are asking to retract a paper on a room-temperature superconductor, but Ranga Dias, the physicist who led the research, continued to defend the findings.

The Gamble: Can Genetically Modified Mosquitoes End Disease?

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 17:22:34 +0000

Working on a remote island, scientists think they can use genetic engineering to block a malaria-carrying species of mosquito from spreading the disease — and do it in just a few months. But governments are wary.

This week with NSF Director Panchanathan

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 17:10:02 +0000

This week, U.S. National Science Foundation Director Sethuraman Panchanathan keyed in on advancing high-impact global collaboration by fostering international partnerships. NSF's Office of International Science and Engineering Head Kendra Sharp and…

An Invasive Mosquito Threatens Catastrophe in Africa

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 16:59:03 +0000

A malaria-carrying species that thrives in urban areas and resists all insecticides is causing outbreaks in places that have rarely faced the disease.

Mosquitoes Are a Growing Public Health Threat, Reversing Years of Progress

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 16:40:58 +0000

Climate change and the rapid evolution of the insect have helped drive up malaria deaths and brought dengue and other mosquito-borne viruses to places that never had to worry about them.

What's behind the debate to re-authorize PEPFAR, the widely hailed anti-HIV effort?

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 16:33:37 +0000

The program launched by President George W. Bush is credited with saving 25 million lives. Some in Congress want this year's reauthorization tied to language that PEPFAR will not "promote abortion."

(Image credit: Brent Stirton/Getty Images)

Too Much Stretching Doomed Earth's Eighth Continent

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 16:23:59 +0000

Scientists have finished mapping what has been called Earth's eighth continent , revealing how it formed and why it largely sank to the depths of the ocean. Above the waves, all that's left of the continent known as Zealandia are the South Pacific islands of New Caledonia and the two islands...

Google Doodle marks happiness psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi's 89th birthday

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 16:07:29 +0000

Friday's Google Doodle celebrates Mihály Csíkszentmihályi, the Hungarian-American psychologist who studied the science of happiness, on his 89th birthday.

Inflammatory response to Covid can worsen existing heart condition: Study

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 13:03:59 +0000

Covid infection can trigger a dangerous immune response in the hard fatty deposits, called plaques, lining the interiors of the heart's blood vessels, which can disrupt the normal blood flow, according to researchers. Exposing these plaques to the coronavirus boosted inflammation in blood vessels, thereby enabling the fatty deposits to interfere with the blood flow and worsen pre-existing heart conditions, the researchers at New York University (NYU) Langone Health, US, showed.

One Village, Two Houses — and a New Tactic to Win the War on Mosquitoes

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 12:05:26 +0000

A different way of thinking about mosquito-borne diseases could save billions of dollars, and end them for good, some health experts believe.

Single-use plastic ban: Some firms unaware of England's new ban

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 10:57:49 +0000

Plastic cutlery is banned in England from Sunday but plastic containers for takeaway meals are not.

Walking five flights of stairs can reduce risk of heart disease by 20%

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 10:57:09 +0000

According to a study by Tulane University, taking at least 50 steps and climbing stairs daily can significantly reduce the risk of heart disease. Climbing more than five flights of stairs per day can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by 20%. The study used data from 450,000 adults and found that stair climbing particularly benefits those who are less susceptible to cardiovascular disease.

Mysterious ‘fairy circles’ found dotting Africa and Australia now found in more parts of world

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 10:18:11 +0000

Multiple theories to explain formation of enigmatic circular patterns have been put forward over five decades

A Statue Draped With Snakes? In Italy, It Happens Every Year.

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 09:00:48 +0000

Held in a small, mountainous village, this festival has it all: snakes, charmers, religion, science. See for yourself — and try not to squirm.

Some Jerk Just Chopped Down One Of The World’s Most Iconic Trees

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 08:51:07 +0000

Britain's beloved centuries-old Sycamore Gap Tree, also known as the Robin Hood Tree, was taken down with a chainsaw.

Crocodiles push stray dog to safety after it falls into danger-filled river

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 05:11:57 +0000

Scientists believe rare rescue is a sign that the fearsome reptiles may be capable of compassion

Scientists discover world’s oldest human-built structure, built by an extinct species

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 04:35:29 +0000

The discovery is likely to change archaeologists’ understanding of the evolution of early human technology

Broadcasters should avoid ‘problematic’ shots of alcohol covering sporting events, researchers say

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 04:03:32 +0000

Broadcasters providing news coverage of sporting events should avoid "problematic" shots of fans drinking alcohol, a team of researchers said Thursday.

Study Investigates Ice Age Climate in Siberia

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 03:10:14 +0000

LAWRENCE, KANSAS—A new study of pollen samples dated to between 45,000 and 50,000 years ago suggests that early modern humans may have encountered a period of warmer temperatures, higher humidity, grasslands, and coniferous forests as they migrated across Europe and Asia and into Siberia, according to a statement released by the University of Kansas. Koji Shichi of the Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Masami Izuho of Tokyo Metropolitan University, Kenji Kashiwaya of Kanazawa University, and Ted Goebel of the University of Kansas created a chronology of environmental changes at Siberia’s Lake Baikal with the data collected from the pollen samples. The study “provides critical insights into environmental conditions at Lake Baikal, using pollen records to reveal surprising warmth during this period,” Goebel explained. The researchers acknowledge, however, that more evidence of the presence of modern humans in the region during the Pleistocene is needed. Read the original scholarly article about this research in Science Advances. To read about 4,000-year-old human remains recovered near Lake Baikal, go to "The Case of the Missing Incisors."

El Nino: Niwa projects lower rainfall than normal, ‘dramatic’ temp swings, strong wind

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 02:54:36 +0000

While strong, damaging wind threatens this weekend, next week could be over 30C in places.

Sixth-Century Tomb in China Hints at Royal Power Struggle

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 02:47:55 +0000

XIANYANG, CHINA—Live Science reports that evidence of a power struggle between royal relatives has been found in a 1,400-year-old tomb in northwestern China. Researchers from the Shaanxi Academy of Archaeology say the tomb measures about 184 long and 33 feet wide, and belonged to Emperor Xiaomin, the son of a powerful general during a period of civil war. Historical records indicate that Emperor Xiaomin, whose personal name was Yuwen Jue, was deposed shortly after the beginning of his reign in A.D. 557 by his warlord cousin Yuwen Hu, and was demoted to the official rank of Duke of Lueyang before he was executed. The researchers explained that an epitaph written in cinnabar at the newly unearthed tomb named its occupant as Duke of Lueyang, making it the first physical evidence of the political intrigue. After Hu’s death more than 30 years later, the late Jue was proclaimed the first emperor of the Northern Zhou dynasty by his brother, who had taken the throne. The researchers added that although Jue’s tomb had been looted, more than 140 artifacts have been recovered, including terracotta figurines and pottery. To read about looting of ancient tombs in Henan, go to "Letter from China: Tomb Raider Chronicles."

The Conversation: Microbiologist reveals the hidden food, dining dangers to avoid

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 01:42:35 +0000

Buffets, bagged salads and oysters all pose a high risk of food poisoning.

UK unready as wildfires surge, warns firefighters' union

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 01:22:34 +0000

Wildfire response across the UK is an under-resourced "postcode lottery", claims a new union report.

Video: How Saturn’s Moons Formed in a Massive Moon Collision

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 00:25:30 +0000

Researchers completed a complex simulation that supports the idea that the giant planet’s jewelry emerged hundreds of millions of years ago, not billions.

Another Strike Against Sitting Too Much: Dementia Risk

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 18:55:00 +0000

Researchers have been warning for a while that sitting for most of the day is not good for our physical health. A new study in JAMA suggests it may specifically hurt our brain health, too. Researchers found that people 60 and older who sat for 12 hours a day or...

This Handsome Pest Arrives in Another State

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 18:30:00 +0000

Illinois is the latest state to find invasive spotted lanternflies , a winged insect that's spreading across the eastern US. First detected in the US nearly a decade ago, the hitchhiking pest and its eggs have been getting rides on vehicles and trains as they expand from southeast Pennsylvania across the...

NSF invests $19.6M in emerging research institutions to grow their capacity to participate in regional innovation ecosystems and announces next funding opportunity

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 18:00:03 +0000

The U.S. National Science Foundation announced the first-ever Enabling Partnerships to Increase Innovation Capacity (EPIIC) investment of $19.6 million to nearly 50 teams at U.S. institutions of higher education, including teams from historically…

Birders in Awe as Storm Delivers 'Uber-Rare' Species

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 16:20:00 +0000

The height of excitment in England is having your soccer team win the Premier League. Bird-watchers say the feeling is akin to what they experienced over the weekend as 16 North American bird species, blown across the Atlantic with the remnants of Hurricane Lee, arrived on British and Irish shores....

250 million is the new 40: Mammals may already be halfway done on Earth, study finds

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 15:30:58 +0000

The future is always hard to predict, especially millions of years from now. But researchers found that a future supercontinent centered around the tropics may be tough for mammals to survive.

(Image credit: Jean-Philippe Ksiazek/AFP via Getty Images)

This Year's Harvest Moon Will Be Spectacular

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 14:50:00 +0000

This has been a banner year for moon-watchers, and there are four full moons still to go, including the last supermoon of the year. The harvest moon, the last of four supermoons in a row, will appear full Thursday evening and reach its peak around 6am ET on Friday, NPR...

M. S. Swaminathan, Scientist Who Helped Conquer Famine in India, Dies at 98

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 14:32:25 +0000

Called the father of India’s Green Revolution, he served on agencies and boards around the world and developed a system of ecologically safe food production.

Unexpectedly calm and remote galaxy cluster discovered

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 14:09:34 +0000

Astronomers have discovered the most distant "relaxed" galaxy cluster to date — the farthest cluster ever spotted that is not being disrupted by violent collisions with other clusters of galaxies. The finding is paving the way to learning how and…

Arrays of quantum rods could enhance TVs or virtual reality devices

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 14:06:33 +0000

Flat-screen TVs that incorporate quantum dots are now commercially available, but it has been more difficult to create arrays of their elongated cousins, quantum rods, for commercial devices. Quantum rods can control both the polarization and color…

NASA Astronaut Frank Rubio Returns From Record Space Trip

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 14:01:51 +0000

The trip to space was only supposed to last six months for Frank Rubio, but technical difficulties kept his crew in orbit for over a year.

NSF partners with the Institute for Progress to test new mechanisms for funding research and innovation

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 14:00:03 +0000

The U.S. National Science Foundation and the Institute for Progress (IFP), with its Metascience Working Group, today announced an agreement to design and execute experiments to explore how the agency funds and supports research and innovation. The…

As Covid Infections Rise, Nursing Homes Are Still Waiting for Vaccines

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 13:27:14 +0000

Now that the U.S. government has stepped back from issuing vaccines, long-term care operators have yet to start administering shots to protect one of the most vulnerable populations.

NSF invests $35M in future manufacturing

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 13:08:56 +0000

Manufacturing is a linchpin of the U.S. economy, bolstering national security, economic growth, and American employment. Through the Future Manufacturing program, the U.S. National Science Foundation makes targeted investments in the future of…

'Even if it doesn't wake up ...': Isro chief on efforts to reconnect with Pragyan rover

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 12:34:13 +0000

Even as Isro is awaiting a signal from Chandrayaan-3's Pragyan rover and Vikram lander, the space agency's chairman S Somanath has said that it won't be a problem even if they fail to wake up.Speaking at a press conference, Somanath said that that Chandrayaan-3's rover, which is currently in sleep mode, has achieved what was expected from it in the mission.The Isro chief said it will wake up if its electronic circuits have not been damaged due to the extreme weather on the moon.

Eutelsat, OneWeb complete merger; to form world’s first GEO-LEO sat space connectivity firm

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 11:15:57 +0000

Eutelsat Communications has completed its merger with OneWeb, creating the Eutelsat Group. The merged entity, headquartered in Paris, will operate as Eutelsat OneWeb with a center in London.

What to Know About the 2023 Nobel Prizes

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 10:49:32 +0000

The Nobel Prizes will be announced beginning Monday.

Roman Cosmetics Shop Unearthed in Turkey

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 02:39:18 +0000

KUTAHYA, TURKEY—According to an Anadolu Agency report, Gokhan Coskun of Dumlupinar University and his colleagues have uncovered a cosmetics shop in the marketplace in western Anatolia’s ancient Roman city of Aizanoi. “During the excavation here, we encountered a large number of perfume bottles,” Coskun said. “In addition to these, there are jewelry items. Among these, there are various beads belonging to products such as hairpins and necklaces used by women,” he added. The researchers also found small fragments of 10 different pigments thought to have been used as makeup. These pigments, most of which were red or pink, were likely placed in the large number of oyster shells found in the shop, he explained. To read more about Roman cosmetics, go to "The Pursuit of Wellness: Beauty."

2,300-Year-Old Greek Bronze Mirror Discovered in Israel

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 02:26:36 +0000

TEL AVIV, ISRAEL—CNN reports that cremated human remains and a well-preserved folding bronze box mirror have been found in a cave near Jerusalem by researchers from Tel Aviv University and the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA). The burial is estimated to date to sometime between the late fourth century and early third century B.C. “If we are correct with our interpretation, it appears that this burial points to the very unique circumstances of what we call a hetaira, a Greek lady who accompanied one of the Hellenistic government officials, or more likely a high general,” said Guy Stiebel of Tel Aviv University. The burial was found in a remote area, far away from any village, farm or settlement, which suggests that she may have been connected with a military campaign from the time of Alexander the Great or slightly later, Stiebel explained. Such bronze mirrors, usually decorated with engravings of idealized female figures or goddesses, are usually associated with Greek women of high status, but may have also been given to a courtesan as a gift, he concluded. The researchers are continuing to analyze the artifact. To read about a bronze mirror buried with a woman some 2,500 years ago in Siberia's Tuva region, go to "Membership Has Its Privileges."

In Peru, a Fossil-Rich Desert Faces Unruly Development

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 00:27:10 +0000

The Ocucaje Desert, where paleontologists recently unearthed the ancient skeleton of the world’s heaviest animal, is being overtaken by human settlement.