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• New DNA modification 'signature' discovered in zebrafish
• What's killing killer whales?
• Leaving so soon? Unusual planetary nebula fades mere decades after it arrived
• Research leads to better modeling of hypersonic flow
• Leaf microbiomes are a neighborhood affair in northern forests
• Peanut treatment lowers risk of severe allergic reactions in preschoolers, study finds
• Titanium atom that exists in two places at once in crystal to blame for unusual phenomenon
• Researchers discover life in deep ocean sediments at or above water's boiling point
• Restoring a rudimentary form of vision in the blind
• Tire-related chemical is largely responsible for adult coho salmon deaths in urban streams
• Shuttering fossil fuel power plants may cost less than expected
• Patients receiving low dose steroid at increased risk of cardiovascular disease, study suggests
• Physicists capture the sound of a perfect fluid
• The same vision for all primates
• Marine mammals' adaptations to low oxygen offer new perspective on COVID-19
• 3D protein modeling suggests why COVID-19 infects some animals, but not others
• Oral drug blocks SARS-CoV-2 transmission, researchers find
• Gaia space telescope measured the acceleration of the Solar System
• What makes certain groups more vulnerable to COVID-19?
• Scientists peer into the 3D structure of the Milky Way
• Ancient migration was choice, not chance
• Robot fleet dives for climate answers in 'marine snow'
• The helix of life: New study shows how 'our' RNA stably binds to artificial nucleic acids
• Blackcurrants are favorable for glucose metabolism
• Coasts drown as coral reefs collapse under warming and acidification
• Autism study suggests connection between repetitive behaviors, gut problems
• Astronomers to release most accurate data ever for nearly two billion stars
• Voyager spacecraft detect new type of solar electron burst
• Cluster of Alaskan islands could be single, interconnected giant volcano
• Medicine-carriers made from human cells can cure lung infections
• Satellite-tagged bottles show promise for tracking plastic litter through rivers
• Amphibian die-offs worsened malaria outbreaks in Central America
• Personality changes predict early career outcomes
• New platform generates hybrid light-matter excitations in highly charged graphene
• Nanomaterials enable dual-mode heating and cooling device
• No poaching occurring within most Channel Islands marine protected areas
• Chaotic early solar system collisions resembled 'Asteroids' arcade game
• Sensor can detect scarred or fatty liver tissue
• No nanoparticle risks to humans found in field tests of spray sunscreens
• New machine learning tool tracks urban traffic congestion
• What social distancing does to a fish brain
• After shipping, pallets pose big risk to public, cause many accidents, injuries
• Supernova surprise creates elemental mystery
• New activity found for CHD7, a protein factor vital in embryonic development
• To increase organs available for transplant, reassess organ procurement organizations' metrics
• Incredible vision in ancient marine creatures drove an evolutionary arms race
• Once in a lifetime floods to become regular occurrences by end of century
• Best region for life on Mars was far below surface
• Targets for avoidable sight loss 'not being met'

New DNA modification 'signature' discovered in zebrafish Posted: 03 Dec 2020 05:05 PM PST Researchers have revealed a previously unknown DNA modification in zebrafish - one of human's distant evolutionary cousins.

What's killing killer whales? Posted: 03 Dec 2020 02:34 PM PST Pathology reports on more than 50 killer whales stranded over nearly a decade in the northeast Pacific and Hawaii show that orcas face a variety of mortal threats -- many stemming from human interactions.

Leaving so soon? Unusual planetary nebula fades mere decades after it arrived Posted: 03 Dec 2020 02:34 PM PST The tiny Stingray Nebula unexpectedly appeared in the 1980s is by far the youngest planetary nebula in our sky. But a team of astronomers recently analyzed a more recent image of the nebula, taken in 2016 by Hubble, and found that it has faded significantly and changed shape over the course of just 20 years. If dimming continues at current rates, in 20 or 30 years the Stingray Nebula will be barely perceptible.

Research leads to better modeling of hypersonic flow Posted: 03 Dec 2020 02:34 PM PST Designing a thermal protection system to keep astronauts and cargo safe requires an understanding at the molecular level of the complicated physics going on in the gas that flows around the vehicle. Recent research added new knowledge about the physical phenomena that occur as atoms vibrate, rotate, and collide in this extreme environment.

Leaf microbiomes are a neighborhood affair in northern forests Posted: 03 Dec 2020 02:34 PM PST Leaf microbiomes of sugar maple trees vary across the species' range, changing in accordance with the types of trees in the surrounding 'neighborhood.'

Peanut treatment lowers risk of severe allergic reactions in preschoolers, study finds Posted: 03 Dec 2020 02:34 PM PST A new study demonstrates that exposing children to a small, regular dose of an allergen (in this case, peanuts) in a real-world setting (outside of a clinical trial) is effective in reducing the risk of allergic reactions.

Titanium atom that exists in two places at once in crystal to blame for unusual phenomenon Posted: 03 Dec 2020 02:34 PM PST Bombarding a crystal with neutrons reveals a quantum quirk that frustrates heat transfer.

Researchers discover life in deep ocean sediments at or above water's boiling point Posted: 03 Dec 2020 11:42 AM PST Biologists found single-celled organisms living in sediments 1180 meters beneath the ocean at temperatures of 120 degrees Celsius.

Restoring a rudimentary form of vision in the blind Posted: 03 Dec 2020 11:42 AM PST Restoration of vision in blind people through a brain implant is on the verge of becoming reality. Recent discoveries show that newly developed high-resolution implants in the visual cortex make it possible to recognize artificially induced shapes and percepts.

Tire-related chemical is largely responsible for adult coho salmon deaths in urban streams Posted: 03 Dec 2020 11:42 AM PST Scientists have discovered a chemical that kills coho salmon in urban streams before the fish can spawn.

Shuttering fossil fuel power plants may cost less than expected Posted: 03 Dec 2020 11:42 AM PST Decarbonizing US electricity production will require both construction of renewable energy sources and retirement of power plants now operated by fossil fuels. A generator-level model suggests that most fossil fuel power plants could complete normal lifespans and still close by 2035 because so many facilities are nearing the end of their operational lives.

Patients receiving low dose steroid at increased risk of cardiovascular disease, study suggests Posted: 03 Dec 2020 11:42 AM PST A new study suggests that even low doses of glucocorticoid may increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Physicists capture the sound of a perfect fluid Posted: 03 Dec 2020 11:42 AM PST Physicists have observed sound waves moving through a 'perfect' fluid. The results should help scientists study the viscosity in neutron stars, the plasma of the early universe, and other strongly interacting fluids.

The same vision for all primates Posted: 03 Dec 2020 11:41 AM PST Primates process visual information similar to pixels in a digital camera, using small computing units located in their visual cortex. Scientists of the University of Geneva have investigated whether these computational units scale across the large differences in size between primates. The gray mouse lemur is one of the smallest of them and his visual processing units reveals that all primates, independent of their body size, have an equivalent computational units.

Marine mammals' adaptations to low oxygen offer new perspective on COVID-19 Posted: 03 Dec 2020 11:41 AM PST Humans are vulnerable to rapid damage in a wide range of tissues when oxygen levels drop due to the effects on the lungs and cardiovascular system of infection with the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. A new article explores how the diving physiology of marine mammals can help us understand the effects of COVID-19.

3D protein modeling suggests why COVID-19 infects some animals, but not others Posted: 03 Dec 2020 11:40 AM PST Some animals are more susceptible to COVID-19 infection than others, and new research suggests this may be due to distinctive structural features of a protein found on the surface of animal cells.

Oral drug blocks SARS-CoV-2 transmission, researchers find Posted: 03 Dec 2020 10:39 AM PST Treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection with a new antiviral drug, MK-4482/EIDD-2801 or Molnupiravir, completely suppresses virus transmission within 24 hours, researchers have discovered.

Gaia space telescope measured the acceleration of the Solar System Posted: 03 Dec 2020 10:39 AM PST The Gaia space telescope has measured the acceleration of the Solar System when it orbits the center of our Milky Way galaxy. The Solar System motion relative to the stars agrees with the results by Finnish astronomers in the 19th century.

What makes certain groups more vulnerable to COVID-19? Posted: 03 Dec 2020 10:39 AM PST What makes the elderly and people with underlying conditions more vulnerable to COVID-19? According to a new study, clues can be found in the proteins involved in initiating infection, as the virus binds to host cells of different animals. Greater cellular oxidation with aging and sickness may explain why seniors and people with chronic illness get infected more often and more severely.

Scientists peer into the 3D structure of the Milky Way Posted: 03 Dec 2020 09:22 AM PST Scientists have helped produce a brand-new, three-dimensional survey of our galaxy, allowing them to peer into the inner structure and observe its star-forming processes in unprecedented detail.

Ancient migration was choice, not chance Posted: 03 Dec 2020 08:32 AM PST The degree of intentionality behind ancient ocean migrations, such as that to the Ryukyu Islands between Taiwan and mainland Japan, has been widely debated. Researchers used satellite-tracked buoys to simulate ancient wayward drifters and found that the vast majority failed to make the contested crossing. They concluded that Paleolithic people 35,000-30,000 years ago must therefore have made the journey not by chance but by choice.

Robot fleet dives for climate answers in 'marine snow' Posted: 03 Dec 2020 08:32 AM PST Sailing from Hobart, twenty researchers hope to capture the most detailed picture yet of how marine life in the Southern Ocean captures and stores carbon from the atmosphere.

The helix of life: New study shows how 'our' RNA stably binds to artificial nucleic acids Posted: 03 Dec 2020 08:32 AM PST Xeno nucleic acids are essential for the development of nucleic acid-based drugs. To be effective, they need to be able to stably bind to natural RNA (a cellular single-stranded version of the DNA, which is essential for all body processes). However, it is unclear how, if at all, RNA hybridizes with these xeno nucleic acids. A new study sheds light on this mechanism, opening doors to the development of potentially revolutionary nucleic acid-based drugs.

Blackcurrants are favorable for glucose metabolism Posted: 03 Dec 2020 08:32 AM PST Blackcurrants have a beneficial effect on post-meal glucose response, and the required portion size is much smaller than previously thought, a new study shows.

Coasts drown as coral reefs collapse under warming and acidification Posted: 03 Dec 2020 08:32 AM PST The coastal protection coral reefs currently provide will start eroding by the end of the century, as the world continues to warm and the oceans acidify. The rate of erosion of calcium carbonate on coral reefs will overtake the rate of accretion on the majority of present-day reefs by the end of the century.

Autism study suggests connection between repetitive behaviors, gut problems Posted: 03 Dec 2020 06:45 AM PST In children with autism, repetitive behaviors and gastrointestinal problems may be connected, new research has found. The study found that increased severity of other autism symptoms was also associated with more severe constipation, stomach pain and other gut difficulties.

Astronomers to release most accurate data ever for nearly two billion stars Posted: 03 Dec 2020 06:45 AM PST On 3 December 2020 an international team of astronomers will announce the most detailed ever catalogue of the stars in a huge swathe of our Milky Way galaxy. The measurements of stellar position and movement are in the third data release from the European Space Agency's Gaia space observatory.

Voyager spacecraft detect new type of solar electron burst Posted: 03 Dec 2020 06:45 AM PST The Voyager spacecraft continue to make discoveries even as they travel through interstellar space. In a new study, physicists report on the Voyagers' detection of cosmic ray electrons associated with eruptions from the sun -- more than 14 billion miles away.

Cluster of Alaskan islands could be single, interconnected giant volcano Posted: 03 Dec 2020 06:45 AM PST A small group of volcanic islands in Alaska's Aleutian chain might be part of a single, undiscovered giant volcano, say scientists. If the researchers' suspicions are correct, the newfound volcanic caldera would belong to the same category of volcanoes as the Yellowstone Caldera and other volcanoes that have had super-eruptions with severe global consequences.

Medicine-carriers made from human cells can cure lung infections Posted: 03 Dec 2020 06:45 AM PST Scientists used human white blood cell membranes to carry two drugs, an antibiotic and an anti-inflammatory, directly to infected lungs in mice. The nano-sized drug delivery method successfully treated both the bacterial growth and inflammation in the mice's lungs. The study shows a potential new strategy for treating infectious diseases, including COVID-19.

Satellite-tagged bottles show promise for tracking plastic litter through rivers Posted: 02 Dec 2020 04:28 PM PST A new study demonstrates the potential for plastic bottles tagged with tracking devices to deepen our understanding of how plastic pollution moves through rivers.

Amphibian die-offs worsened malaria outbreaks in Central America Posted: 02 Dec 2020 04:27 PM PST The global collapse of frogs and other amphibians due to the amphibian chytrid fungus exacerbated malaria outbreaks in Costa Rica and Panama during the 1990s and 2000s, according to new research. The findings provide the first evidence that amphibian population declines have directly affected human health and show how preserving biodiversity can benefit humans as well as local ecosystems.

Personality changes predict early career outcomes Posted: 02 Dec 2020 04:27 PM PST A new study by a psychologist may hold the key to job success. It finds young people who develop higher levels of conscientiousness and emotional stability during the transition to employment tend to be more successful in some aspects of their early careers.

New platform generates hybrid light-matter excitations in highly charged graphene Posted: 02 Dec 2020 04:27 PM PST Researchers report that they have achieved plasmonically active graphene with record-high charge density without an external gate. They accomplished this by exploiting novel interlayer charge transfer with a two-dimensional electron-acceptor.

Nanomaterials enable dual-mode heating and cooling device Posted: 02 Dec 2020 04:27 PM PST Engineers have demonstrated a dual-mode heating and cooling device for building climate control that, if widely deployed in the U.S., could cut HVAC energy use by nearly 20 percent. The invention uses a combination of mechanics and nanomaterials to either harness or expel certain wavelengths of light. Depending on conditions, rollers move a sheet back and forth to expose either heat-trapping materials or cooling materials.

No poaching occurring within most Channel Islands marine protected areas Posted: 02 Dec 2020 04:27 PM PST Fish are thriving and poachers are staying out of marine protected areas around California's Channel Islands, a new population analysis shows.

Chaotic early solar system collisions resembled 'Asteroids' arcade game Posted: 02 Dec 2020 04:27 PM PST One Friday evening in 1992, a meteorite ended a more than 150 million-mile journey by smashing into the trunk of a red Chevrolet Malibu in Peekskill, New York. Nearly 30 years later, a new analysis of that same Peekskill meteorite and 17 others has led to a new hypothesis about how asteroids formed during the early years of the solar system.

Sensor can detect scarred or fatty liver tissue Posted: 02 Dec 2020 04:27 PM PST Engineers have now developed a diagnostic tool, based on nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), that could be used to detect both fatty liver disease and liver fibrosis.

No nanoparticle risks to humans found in field tests of spray sunscreens Posted: 02 Dec 2020 04:27 PM PST People can continue using mineral-based aerosol sunscreens without fear of exposure to dangerous levels of nanoparticles or other respirable particulates, according to new research.

New machine learning tool tracks urban traffic congestion Posted: 02 Dec 2020 04:27 PM PST Using public data from the entire 1,500-square-mile Los Angeles metropolitan area, researchers reduced the time needed to create a traffic congestion model by an order of magnitude, from hours to minutes.

What social distancing does to a fish brain Posted: 02 Dec 2020 04:27 PM PST Researchers have discovered a brain molecule that functions as a 'thermometer' for the presence of others in an animal's environment. Zebrafish 'feel' the presence of others via mechanosensation and water movements -- which turns the brain hormone on.

After shipping, pallets pose big risk to public, cause many accidents, injuries Posted: 02 Dec 2020 04:27 PM PST Shipping pallets -- often used as display platforms in retail settings or seen as raw material for household projects -- were responsible for sending more than 30,000 people to the emergency rooms of U.S. hospitals over a recent five-year period, according to a new study.

Supernova surprise creates elemental mystery Posted: 02 Dec 2020 04:27 PM PST Researchers have discovered that one of the most important reactions in the universe can get a huge and unexpected boost inside exploding stars known as supernovae.

New activity found for CHD7, a protein factor vital in embryonic development Posted: 02 Dec 2020 04:27 PM PST Research has yielded fundamental insights into the causes of severe birth defects known as CHARGE syndrome cases. These congenital birth defects include severe and life-threatening heart malformations. Researchers successfully inactivated the gene for CHD7 in the neural crest cells of mouse embryos, and then rigorously probed how this change in developing cardiac neural crest cells caused severe defects in the outflow tract and great arteries, leading to perinatal lethality.

To increase organs available for transplant, reassess organ procurement organizations' metrics Posted: 02 Dec 2020 04:27 PM PST A new article analyzes the metrics used to evaluate organ procurement organizations and proposes three complementary metrics to reflect more accurate and equitable performance rankings.

Incredible vision in ancient marine creatures drove an evolutionary arms race Posted: 02 Dec 2020 04:27 PM PST Ancient deep sea creatures called radiodonts had incredible vision that likely drove an evolutionary arms race according to new research.

Once in a lifetime floods to become regular occurrences by end of century Posted: 02 Dec 2020 04:27 PM PST Superstorm Sandy brought flood-levels to the New York region that had not been seen in generations. Now, due to the impact of climate change, researchers have found that 100-year and 500-year flood levels could become regular occurrences for the thousands of homes surrounding Jamaica Bay, New York by the end of the century.

Best region for life on Mars was far below surface Posted: 02 Dec 2020 04:25 PM PST The most habitable region for life on Mars would have been up to several miles below its surface, likely due to subsurface melting of thick ice sheets fueled by geothermal heat, a new study concludes. The study may help resolve what's known as the faint young sun paradox - a lingering key question in Mars science.

Targets for avoidable sight loss 'not being met' Posted: 02 Dec 2020 08:45 AM PST A new global study has found no significant reduction in the number of people with treatable sight loss since 2010.

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