ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Fast, portable test can diagnose COVID-19 and track variants
• Even without a brain, metal-eating robots can search for food
• Mothers bear the cost of the pandemic shift to remote work
• Scientists create next gen living robots
• How comorbidities increase risks for COVID patients
• Ancient meteoritic impact over Antarctica 430,000 years ago
• Deep diamonds contain evidence of deep-Earth recycling processes
• 450-million-year-old sea creatures had a leg up on breathing
• First X-rays from Uranus discovered
• In search of the first bacterium
• How Middle East dust intensifies summer monsoons on Indian subcontinent
• Mice naturally engage in physical distancing
• Why SARS-CoV-2 replicates better in the upper respiratory tract
• Scientists have laser-cooled antimatter
• Temperature sensor could help safeguard mRNA vaccines
• Can drinking cocoa protect your heart when you're stressed?
• Revealing meat and fish fraud with a handheld 'MasSpec Pen' in seconds
• Firms recruit dark personalities for earnings management
• Scientists design 'smart' device to harvest daylight
• Millennials and Generation Z are more sustainability-orientated -- even when it comes to money, researchers find
• B.1.1.7 variant of COVID-19 spreading rapidly in United States
• New study sows doubt about the composition of 70 percent of our universe
• More support needed for two children in every class with hidden language disorder
• Carbon-neutral 'biofuel' from lakes
• Findings offer 'recipe' for fine tuning alloys for high-temperature use
• Special heat treatment improves novel magnetic material
• Psychological interventions can reduce engine idling and improve air quality
• Preconditions for life present 3.5 billion years ago
• Micro-environmental influences on artificial micromotors
• Scientists pinpoint our most distant animal relatives
• A new technique to synthesize superconducting materials
• Pumping the 'brain brake' in pediatric anxiety
• Targeted opioid that hones in on inflamed tissues stops colitis pain without side effects
• Study ratifies link of processed meat to cardiovascular disease and early death
• Lab-made hexagonal diamonds stiffer than natural diamonds
• Exercise, healthy diet in midlife may prevent serious health conditions in senior years
• Engineers use tiny device to change songbird pitch, improve understanding of human speech
• Turning back the clock on a severe vision disorder
• Evidence of DNA collection from air
• Experimental treatment offers hope of fertility for early menopausal women
• Floating gardens as a way to keep farming despite climate change
• Impacts of sunscreen on coral reefs needs urgent attention
• COVID-19-associated seizures may be common, linked to higher risk of death

Fast, portable test can diagnose COVID-19 and track variants Posted: 31 Mar 2021 02:37 PM PDT Clinicians using a new viral screening test can not only diagnose COVID-19 in a matter of minutes with a portable, pocket-sized machine, but can also simultaneously test for other viruses -- like influenza -- that might be mistaken for the coronavirus. At the same time, they can sequence the virus, providing valuable information on the spread of COVID-19 mutations and variants.

Even without a brain, metal-eating robots can search for food Posted: 31 Mar 2021 02:37 PM PDT This 'metal-eating' robot can follow a metal path without using a computer or needing a battery. By wiring the power-supplying units to the wheels on the opposite side, the robot autonomously navigates towards aluminum surfaces and away from hazards that block its energy source.

Mothers bear the cost of the pandemic shift to remote work Posted: 31 Mar 2021 02:37 PM PDT At the same time the pandemic was expanding the number of people working remotely, children nationwide began attending school virtually. The result? An increase in domestic work that fell disproportionately on the shoulders of mothers, according to a new study by sociologists.

Scientists create next gen living robots Posted: 31 Mar 2021 11:30 AM PDT Scientists up to create the next version of Xenobots - tiny biological robots that self-assemble, carry out tasks, and can repair themselves. Now they can move faster, and record information.

How comorbidities increase risks for COVID patients Posted: 31 Mar 2021 11:30 AM PDT Comorbidities such as heart disease, respiratory disease, renal disease and cancer lead to an increased risk of death from COVID-19, according to new research.

Ancient meteoritic impact over Antarctica 430,000 years ago Posted: 31 Mar 2021 11:30 AM PDT A research team of international space scientists has found new evidence of a low-altitude meteoritic touchdown event reaching the Antarctic ice sheet 430,000 years ago.

Deep diamonds contain evidence of deep-Earth recycling processes Posted: 31 Mar 2021 11:30 AM PDT Diamonds that formed deep in the Earth's mantle contain evidence of chemical reactions that occurred on the seafloor. Probing these gems can help geoscientists understand how material is exchanged between the planet's surface and its depths.

450-million-year-old sea creatures had a leg up on breathing Posted: 31 Mar 2021 11:30 AM PDT A new study has found the first evidence of sophisticated breathing organs in 450-million-year-old sea creatures. Contrary to previous thought, trilobites were leg breathers, with structures resembling gills hanging off their thighs.

First X-rays from Uranus discovered Posted: 31 Mar 2021 10:09 AM PDT Astronomers have detected X-rays from Uranus using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory. This result may help scientists learn more about this enigmatic ice giant planet in our Solar System.

In search of the first bacterium Posted: 31 Mar 2021 08:48 AM PDT What did the ancestor of all bacteria look like, where did it live and what did it feed on? A team of researchers has now found answers to these questions by analyzing biochemical metabolic networks and evolutionary trees. They can now even infer the shape of the first bacterium.

How Middle East dust intensifies summer monsoons on Indian subcontinent Posted: 31 Mar 2021 08:48 AM PDT A new study details how the Indian Summer Monsoon is supercharged by atmospheric dust particles swept up by winds from deserts in the Middle East.

Mice naturally engage in physical distancing Posted: 31 Mar 2021 08:48 AM PDT Researchers have identified a brain circuit that prevents male mice from trying to mate with sick females.

Why SARS-CoV-2 replicates better in the upper respiratory tract Posted: 31 Mar 2021 08:47 AM PDT Researchers have assessed virus growth and activation of the cellular defense mechanisms in the respiratory tract. They have shown that natural temperature differences that exist in the upper and lower respiratory tract have a profound influence on SARS-CoV-2 replication and subsequent innate immune activation in human cells. The findings can help to develop antiviral drugs and preventive measures.

Scientists have laser-cooled antimatter Posted: 31 Mar 2021 08:47 AM PDT Scientists have succeeded in cooling down antihydrogen atoms - the simplest form of atomic antimatter - with laser light.

Temperature sensor could help safeguard mRNA vaccines Posted: 31 Mar 2021 08:47 AM PDT Researchers have developed a tamper-proof temperature indicator that can alert health care workers when a vial of vaccine reaches an unsafe temperature for a certain period, which could help ensure distribution of effective mRNA vaccines.

Can drinking cocoa protect your heart when you're stressed? Posted: 31 Mar 2021 08:47 AM PDT Increased consumption of flavanols - a group of molecules occurring naturally in fruit and vegetables - could protect people from mental stress-induced cardiovascular events such as stroke, heart disease and thrombosis, according to new research.

Revealing meat and fish fraud with a handheld 'MasSpec Pen' in seconds Posted: 31 Mar 2021 08:47 AM PDT Meat and fish fraud are global problems, costing consumers billions of dollars every year. On top of that, mislabeling products can cause problems for people with allergies, religious or cultural restrictions. Current methods to detect this fraud, while accurate, are slower than inspectors would like. Now, researchers have optimized their handheld MasSpec Pen to identify common types of meat and fish within 15 seconds.

Firms recruit dark personalities for earnings management Posted: 31 Mar 2021 08:46 AM PDT Dark personality traits are often framed as an accidental byproduct of selecting managers who fit the stereotype of a strong leader. However, research finds that this is often no accident.

Scientists design 'smart' device to harvest daylight Posted: 31 Mar 2021 07:36 AM PDT A team of researchers has designed a 'smart' device to harvest daylight and relay it to underground spaces, reducing the need to draw on traditional energy sources for lighting.

Millennials and Generation Z are more sustainability-orientated -- even when it comes to money, researchers find Posted: 31 Mar 2021 07:36 AM PDT The younger generations are willing to put their money where their mouth is when it comes to sustainable living. In a study questioning both commitment to sustainable behaviors and willingness to trade better pay to work for a more sustainable-minded company, the surveyed young adults in Japan made their preferences clear.

B.1.1.7 variant of COVID-19 spreading rapidly in United States Posted: 31 Mar 2021 07:36 AM PDT A genetic analysis of virus samples suggests that the UK-originating variant, which is 40-50 percent more transmissible, entered the country in late November 2020.

New study sows doubt about the composition of 70 percent of our universe Posted: 31 Mar 2021 07:36 AM PDT Researchers the world over have long believed that 70 percent of the universe is composed of dark energy, a substance that makes it possible for the universe to expand at an ever-increasing rate. But in a new study, researchers tested a model which suggests that the universe's expansion is due to a dark substance with a kind of magnetic force.

More support needed for two children in every class with hidden language disorder Posted: 31 Mar 2021 07:36 AM PDT Psychologists suggests schools could introduce quieter alternatives to playtime to help children with developmental language disorder.

Carbon-neutral 'biofuel' from lakes Posted: 31 Mar 2021 07:36 AM PDT Lakes store huge amounts of methane. In a new study, environmental scientists offer suggestions for how it can be extracted and used as an energy source in the form of methanol.

Findings offer 'recipe' for fine tuning alloys for high-temperature use Posted: 31 Mar 2021 07:36 AM PDT Superalloys that withstand extremely high temperatures could soon be tuned even more finely for specific properties such as mechanical strength, as a result of new findings published today.

Special heat treatment improves novel magnetic material Posted: 31 Mar 2021 07:36 AM PDT Skyrmions are considered promising candidates for tomorrow's information memory devices which may be able to achieve enormous data storage and processing capacities. A research team has developed a method to grow a particular magnetic thin-film material that hosts these magnetic vortices. A central aspect of this new method is the abrupt heating of the material with short, very bright flashes of light.

Psychological interventions can reduce engine idling and improve air quality Posted: 31 Mar 2021 07:36 AM PDT New research has found that using low-cost psychological interventions can reduce vehicle engine idling and in turn improve air quality, especially when there is increased traffic volume at railway level crossings.

Preconditions for life present 3.5 billion years ago Posted: 31 Mar 2021 07:35 AM PDT For the first time, organic molecules could be detected in such old liquids as possible nutrients for primordial microbes.

Micro-environmental influences on artificial micromotors Posted: 31 Mar 2021 07:35 AM PDT In a new experiment, researchers show for the first time how the velocities of Janus particles relate to the physical properties of nearby barriers.

Scientists pinpoint our most distant animal relatives Posted: 31 Mar 2021 07:35 AM PDT Scientists believe they have pinpointed our most distant animal relative in the tree of life and, in doing so, have resolved an ongoing debate. Their work finds strong evidence that sponges - not more complex comb jellies - were our most distant relatives.

A new technique to synthesize superconducting materials Posted: 31 Mar 2021 07:35 AM PDT Researchers who demonstrated superconducting materials at room temperatures last fall, now report a new technique in the quest to also create the materials at lower pressures. They describe separating hydrogen atoms from yttrium with a thin film of palladium inside a diamond anvil.

Pumping the 'brain brake' in pediatric anxiety Posted: 31 Mar 2021 07:35 AM PDT A new study reveals that an evidence-based treatment may 'fix' a human short circuit that leads to anxiety and, with the help of brain imaging, might predict treatment outcomes for adolescents with anxiety disorders. Researchers say this could determine medication effectiveness more quickly to help patients.

Targeted opioid that hones in on inflamed tissues stops colitis pain without side effects Posted: 31 Mar 2021 07:35 AM PDT A targeted opioid that only treats diseased tissues and spares healthy tissues relieves pain from inflammatory bowel disease without causing side effects, according to new research.

Study ratifies link of processed meat to cardiovascular disease and early death Posted: 31 Mar 2021 07:35 AM PDT The information comes from the diets and health outcomes of 134,297 people from 21 countries spanning five continents, who were tracked by researchers for data on meat consumption and cardiovascular illnesses.

Lab-made hexagonal diamonds stiffer than natural diamonds Posted: 31 Mar 2021 05:58 AM PDT For the first time, researchers have hard evidence that human-made hexagonal diamonds are stiffer than cubic diamonds found in nature and often used in jewelry. Hexagonal diamonds have been found at some meteorite impact sites and others have been made in labs but were either too small or existed to briefly for measurement. Now scientists have created hexagonal diamonds large enough to measure their stiffness using sound waves.

Exercise, healthy diet in midlife may prevent serious health conditions in senior years Posted: 31 Mar 2021 05:58 AM PDT Regular exercise and a healthy diet for middle-aged adults may be key to achieving optimal cardiometabolic health later in life. Cardiometabolic health risk factors include the metabolic syndrome, a cluster of health conditions such as excess body fat around the waist, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels that increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and Type 2 diabetes.

Engineers use tiny device to change songbird pitch, improve understanding of human speech Posted: 31 Mar 2021 05:58 AM PDT Scientific understanding of the brain regions responsible for speech and communication is limited. Consequently, knowledge of how to improve challenges such as speech impediments or language acquisition is limited as well. Using an ultra-lightweight, wireless implant, a team is researching songbirds - one of the few species that share humans' ability to learn new vocalizations - to improve scientific understanding of human speech.

Turning back the clock on a severe vision disorder Posted: 31 Mar 2021 05:57 AM PDT Children born with a severe form of Leber congenital amaurosis are blind from birth. Researchers have developed a gene therapy that not only stops but reverses the damage to cone photoreceptor cells in a canine model of the condition.

Evidence of DNA collection from air Posted: 31 Mar 2021 05:57 AM PDT Researchers have shown for the first time that animal DNA shed within the environment can be collected from the air.

Experimental treatment offers hope of fertility for early menopausal women Posted: 31 Mar 2021 05:56 AM PDT Menopause typically signals the end of a woman's ability to become pregnant. However, in a small new study, a novel approach of administering platelet-rich plasma and gonadotropins near the ovarian follicles is showing promise in restoring ovarian function.

Floating gardens as a way to keep farming despite climate change Posted: 31 Mar 2021 05:56 AM PDT Bangladesh's floating gardens, built to grow food during flood seasons, could offer a sustainable solution for parts of the world prone to flooding because of climate change, a new study has found.

Impacts of sunscreen on coral reefs needs urgent attention Posted: 31 Mar 2021 05:49 AM PDT More research is needed on the environmental impact of sunscreen on the world's coral reefs.

COVID-19-associated seizures may be common, linked to higher risk of death Posted: 30 Mar 2021 02:10 PM PDT Some hospitalized patients with COVID-19 experience 'nonconvulsive' seizures detected through electrode tests. Among hospitalized patients with COVID-19, those who had seizures were more likely to need lengthy hospital stays and faced a higher risk of dying.

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