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• Leaf-cutter bees as plastic recyclers? Not a good idea, say scientists
• Researchers pioneer more effective way to block malaria transmission in mosquitoes
• Europe took center-stage in global spread of the coronavirus, says new research
• Implantable device can monitor and treat heart disease
• Researchers engineer tiny machines that deliver medicine efficiently
• Study uncovers subset of COVID-19 patients who recover quickly and sustain antibodies
• New mineral discovered in moon meteorite
• Harnessing the 'wisdom of crowds' can help combat antibiotic over-prescription
• Transparent soil-like substances provide window on soil ecology
• The cement for coral reefs
• Tracking flight trajectory of evaporating cough droplets
• Venous origin of brain blood-vessel malformations
• Study finds 1 in 8 patients with cancer harbor inherited genetic mutations
• Drones that patrol forests could monitor environmental and ecological changes
• Model of multicellular evolution overturns classic theory
• Some of the principal treatments for osteoporosis could reduce the incidence of COVID-19, study finds
• A new lead for disarming antibiotic-resistant bacteria
• New study reveals poisoning exposures in Australian schools
• Study finds 1.7 million New Yorkers have been infected with SARS-Cov-2 and virus was in NYC earlier than reported
• Review finds almost 20 percent of COVID-19 patients only show gastrointestinal symptoms
• Buffalo fly faces Dengue nemesis
• Ants swallow their own acid to protect themselves from germs
• New AI tool provides much-needed help to protein scientists across the world
• From nitrate crisis to phosphate crisis?
• The craters on Earth
• Students develop tool to predict the carbon footprint of algorithms
• Increasing the efficiency of organic solar cells
• The importance of good neighbors in catalysis
• Two centuries of Monarch butterflies show evolution of wing length
• COVID-19 'super-spreading' events play outsized role in overall disease transmission
• Rapid method finds potent COVID-19 monoclonal antibody among a trillion possibilities
• Secrets behind 'Game of Thrones' unveiled by data science and network theory
• Just like us - Neanderthal children grew and were weaned similar to us
• Scientists identify specific brain region and circuits controlling attention
• Avoiding inflammatory foods can lower heart disease, stroke risk
• New insight into how brain neurons influence choices

Leaf-cutter bees as plastic recyclers? Not a good idea, say scientists Posted: 03 Nov 2020 04:10 PM PST Scientists have noted instances of leaf-cutter bees using plastic waste to construct their nests and one research group suggested such behavior could be an 'ecologically adaptive trait' and beneficial recycling effort. Other scientists say no; such behavior is harmful to the bee's offspring.

Researchers pioneer more effective way to block malaria transmission in mosquitoes Posted: 03 Nov 2020 11:06 AM PST Employing a strategy known as 'population modification,' which involves using a CRISPR-Cas9 gene drive system to introduce genes preventing parasite transmission into mosquito chromosomes, researchers have made a major advance in the use of genetic technologies to control the transmission of malaria parasites.

Europe took center-stage in global spread of the coronavirus, says new research Posted: 03 Nov 2020 11:06 AM PST Genome researchers have discovered that it is Europe, not China, which has been the main source of spreading the coronavirus disease around the world.

Implantable device can monitor and treat heart disease Posted: 03 Nov 2020 10:27 AM PST Researchers reported developing a cardiac patch made from fully rubbery electronics that can be placed directly on the heart to collect electrophysiological activity, temperature, heartbeat and other indicators, all at the same time.

Researchers engineer tiny machines that deliver medicine efficiently Posted: 03 Nov 2020 10:27 AM PST Inspired by a parasitic worm that digs its sharp teeth into its host's intestines, researchers have designed tiny, star-shaped microdevices that can latch onto intestinal mucosa and release drugs into the body.

Study uncovers subset of COVID-19 patients who recover quickly and sustain antibodies Posted: 03 Nov 2020 09:10 AM PST Researchers examined blood samples and cells from patients who had recovered from mild to moderate COVID-19 and found that while antibodies against the virus declined in most individuals after disease resolution, a subset of patients sustained anti-virus antibody production several months following infection.

New mineral discovered in moon meteorite Posted: 03 Nov 2020 08:56 AM PST The high-pressure mineral Donwilhelmsite, recently discovered in the lunar meteorite Oued Awlitis 001 from Apollo missions, is important for understanding the inner structure of Earth.

Harnessing the 'wisdom of crowds' can help combat antibiotic over-prescription Posted: 03 Nov 2020 08:56 AM PST A new study has demonstrated that using the 'wisdom of crowds' (also known as collective intelligence) of three or more medical prescribers, can improve decisions about antibiotic prescribing and help combat rising levels of antibiotic resistance.

Transparent soil-like substances provide window on soil ecology Posted: 03 Nov 2020 08:56 AM PST By using two different transparent soil substitutes, scientists have shown that soil bacteria rely on fungi to help them survive dry periods, says a new study.

The cement for coral reefs Posted: 03 Nov 2020 08:56 AM PST Coral reefs are hotspots of biodiversity. As they can withstand heavy storms, they offer many species a safe home. A team has now discovered that a very specific type of 'cement' is responsible for the stability of coral reefs - by forming a hard calcareous skeleton, coralline red algae stabilize the reefs, and have been doing so for at least 150 million years.

Tracking flight trajectory of evaporating cough droplets Posted: 03 Nov 2020 08:25 AM PST Researchers conducted a numerical study on droplet dispersion using high fidelity air flow simulation. The scientists found a single 100-micrometer cough droplet under wind speed of 2 meters per second can travel up to 6.6 meters and even further under dry air conditions due to droplet evaporation.

Venous origin of brain blood-vessel malformations Posted: 03 Nov 2020 08:25 AM PST In the condition known as cavernoma, lesions arise in a cluster of blood vessels in the brain, spinal cord or retina. Researchers can now show, at molecular level, that these changes originate in vein cells. This new knowledge of the condition creates potential for developing better therapies for patients.

Study finds 1 in 8 patients with cancer harbor inherited genetic mutations Posted: 03 Nov 2020 08:25 AM PST Genetic testing can uncover inherited genetic mutations, and could individualize cancer therapies, improve survival, manage cancer in loved ones and push the boundaries of precision medicine.

Drones that patrol forests could monitor environmental and ecological changes Posted: 03 Nov 2020 08:25 AM PST Researchers have created drones that can attach sensors to trees to monitor environmental and ecological changes in forests.

Model of multicellular evolution overturns classic theory Posted: 03 Nov 2020 08:25 AM PST Cells can evolve specialized functions under a much broader range of conditions than previously thought, according to a study.

Some of the principal treatments for osteoporosis could reduce the incidence of COVID-19, study finds Posted: 03 Nov 2020 07:47 AM PST A new study suggests that certain drugs used to treat osteoporosis are safe for COVID-19 patients and could even have a protective effect. The results support the recommendations of the scientific guidelines relating to the desirability of maintaining treatments for osteoporosis in patients with COVID-19.

A new lead for disarming antibiotic-resistant bacteria Posted: 03 Nov 2020 07:47 AM PST A virus can stop bacteria from sharing genes for antibiotic resistance among themselves, researchers have discovered. The results hint at new ways to treat infections and describe a new feature of a highly diverse, largely unexplored part of the biosphere.

New study reveals poisoning exposures in Australian schools Posted: 03 Nov 2020 07:47 AM PST New research has found poisoning exposures in children and adolescents while at school are relatively common and appear to be increasing, highlighting the need for more robust prevention measures.

Study finds 1.7 million New Yorkers have been infected with SARS-Cov-2 and virus was in NYC earlier than reported Posted: 03 Nov 2020 07:47 AM PST The virus that causes COVID-19 was present in New York City long before the city's first case of the disease was confirmed on March 1, according to a new study.

Review finds almost 20 percent of COVID-19 patients only show gastrointestinal symptoms Posted: 03 Nov 2020 07:47 AM PST Almost one in five patients with COVID-19 may only show gastrointestinal symptoms, according to a review of academic studies. The findings of the review suggest abdominal radiologists need to remain vigilant during the pandemic while imaging patients.

Buffalo fly faces Dengue nemesis Posted: 03 Nov 2020 07:47 AM PST Australian beef cattle researchers trial the use of insect-infecting bacterium Wolbachia to tackle buffalo fly, a major blood-sucking pest that costs the industry $100 million a year in treatments and lost production.

Ants swallow their own acid to protect themselves from germs Posted: 03 Nov 2020 07:47 AM PST Ants use their own acid to disinfect themselves and their stomachs. A team has found that formic acid kills harmful bacteria in the animal's food, thereby reducing the risk of disease. At the same time, the acid significantly influences the ant's intestinal flora.

New AI tool provides much-needed help to protein scientists across the world Posted: 03 Nov 2020 07:47 AM PST Sorting huge amounts of data is a bottleneck in protein research, a field that is crucial to make use of the gene-editing technology CRISPR and fully understand diseases like cancer, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Now, researchers have employed artificial intelligence to do the heavy lifting -- and do so in a way that can ensure common international standards while making advanced protein science more accessible.

From nitrate crisis to phosphate crisis? Posted: 03 Nov 2020 07:47 AM PST The aim of the EU Nitrates Directive is to reduce nitrates leaking into the environment and to prevent pollution of water supplies. The widely accepted view is that this will help protect threatened plant species which can be damaged by high levels of nutrients like nitrates. However, an international team has discovered that many threatened plant species will suffer because of this policy.

The craters on Earth Posted: 03 Nov 2020 07:47 AM PST A two-volume atlas presents and explains the impact sites of meteorites and asteroids worldwide.

Students develop tool to predict the carbon footprint of algorithms Posted: 03 Nov 2020 07:47 AM PST Within the scientific community, it is estimated that artificial intelligence -- otherwise meant to serve as a means to effectively combat climate change -- will become one of the most egregious CO2 culprits should current trends continue. To raise awareness about the challenge, two students have launched a tool to calculate the carbon footprint of developing deep learning models.

Increasing the efficiency of organic solar cells Posted: 03 Nov 2020 04:55 AM PST Organic solar cells are cheaper to produce and more flexible than their counterparts made of crystalline silicon, but do not offer the same level of efficiency or stability. Researchers demonstrated that increases in efficiency can be achieved using luminescent acceptor molecules.

The importance of good neighbors in catalysis Posted: 03 Nov 2020 04:55 AM PST Are you affected by your neighbors? So are nanoparticles in catalysts. New research reveals how the nearest neighbors determine how well nanoparticles work in a catalyst.

Two centuries of Monarch butterflies show evolution of wing length Posted: 02 Nov 2020 02:32 PM PST North America's beloved Monarch butterflies are known for their annual, multi-generation migrations in which individual insects can fly for thousands of miles. But Monarchs have also settled in some locations where their favorite food plants grow year round, so they no longer need to migrate. A new study of specimens collected over the last two centuries shows how wing length evolves in response to migration habits.

COVID-19 'super-spreading' events play outsized role in overall disease transmission Posted: 02 Nov 2020 02:32 PM PST Researchers find COVID-19 super-spreading events, in which one person infects more than six other people, are much more frequent than anticipated, and that they have an outsized contribution to coronavirus transmission.

Rapid method finds potent COVID-19 monoclonal antibody among a trillion possibilities Posted: 02 Nov 2020 02:32 PM PST Scientists have discovered the fastest way to identify potent, neutralizing human monoclonal antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The method -- as well as a trio of successful animal studies on an antibody called 'Ab1' -- are described today in a new study. Ab1 is on track for human clinical trials by early next year.

Secrets behind 'Game of Thrones' unveiled by data science and network theory Posted: 02 Nov 2020 01:26 PM PST What are the secrets behind one of the most successful fantasy series of all time? How has a story as complex as 'Game of Thrones' enthralled the world and how does it compare to other narratives? Researchers from five universities across the UK and Ireland came together to unravel 'A Song of Ice and Fire', the books on which the TV series is based.

Just like us - Neanderthal children grew and were weaned similar to us Posted: 02 Nov 2020 12:08 PM PST Neanderthals behaved not so differently from us in raising their children, whose pace of growth was similar to Homo sapiens. Thanks to the combination of geochemical and histological analyses of three Neanderthal milk teeth, researchers were able to determine their pace of growth and the weaning onset time. These teeth belonged to three different Neanderthal children who have lived between 70,000 and 45,000 years ago in a small area of northeastern Italy.

Scientists identify specific brain region and circuits controlling attention Posted: 02 Nov 2020 12:08 PM PST A new study shows that norepinephrine-producing neurons in the locus coeruleus produce attention focus and impulse control via two distinct connections to prefrontal cortex.

Avoiding inflammatory foods can lower heart disease, stroke risk Posted: 02 Nov 2020 11:22 AM PST Diets high in red and processed meat, refined grains and sugary beverages, which have been associated with increased inflammation in the body, can increase subsequent risk of heart disease and stroke compared to diets filled with anti-inflammatory foods. A separate study assessed the positive effects eating walnuts, an anti-inflammatory food, had on decreasing inflammation and heart disease risk.

New insight into how brain neurons influence choices Posted: 02 Nov 2020 09:00 AM PST By studying animals choosing between two drink options, researchers have discovered that the activity of certain neurons in the brain leads directly to the choice of one option over another. The findings could lead to better understanding of how decision-making goes wrong in conditions such as addiction and depression.

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