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• Creating order by mechanical deformation in dense active matter
• Screening device accurately detects amblyopia (lazy eye)
• Case of anthrax in wildlife in the Namib Desert: Infected zebra most likely causes death of three cheetahs
• Amazonian protected areas benefit both people and biodiversity
• Late Pleistocene humans may have hatched and raised cassowary chicks
• Sunlight exposure guidelines may need to be revised
• N95 respirators could offer robust protection from wildfire smoke
• Withdrawal from psychostimulants restructures functional architecture of brain
• Drugs used by some Type 2 diabetics may lessen risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes, study suggests
• Benefits of early intervention in autoimmune diseases
• Detecting dementia in the blood
• Record in materials research: X-ray microscopy with 1000 tomograms per second
• Earth and Venus grew up as rambunctious planets
• Watching SARS-CoV-2 spread in animal models in real time
• Discovery of mechanics of drug targets for COVID-19
• Reducing tropical cyclone impacts: The double benefit of climate protection through both limiting and delaying global warming
• Ultrathin quantum dot LED that can be folded freely as paper
• Hyena scavenging provides public health and economic benefits to African cities
• Hungry or full: It comes down to the atomic details
• When accidents happen, drones weigh their options
• Taking the guesswork out of genetic engineering
• Learning helps tobacco hawkmoths to select a nectar source and oviposition site more efficiently
• This is what it looks like when a black hole snacks on a star
• Spouses really are together in sickness and in health suggests new study
• Healthy changes in diet, activity improved treatment-resistant high blood pressure
• COVID-19 pandemic has caused the biggest decrease in life expectancy since World War II, study finds
• ‘Back to basics’ approach helps unravel new phase of matter
• Finger tracing enhances learning: Evidence for 100-year-old practice used by Montessori
• A 3D-printed vaccine patch offers vaccination without a shot
• Shrinking waveforms on electrocardiograms predict worsening health and death of hospitalized COVID-19 and influenza patients
• Unusual visual examination of objects may indicate later autism diagnosis in infants
• New potential factor contributing to severity of COVID-19 identified

Creating order by mechanical deformation in dense active matter Posted: 27 Sep 2021 02:29 PM PDT 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.

Screening device accurately detects amblyopia (lazy eye) Posted: 27 Sep 2021 02:29 PM PDT A handheld screening device that detects subtle misalignment of the eyes accurately identifies children with amblyopia (lazy eye), according to a new study.

Case of anthrax in wildlife in the Namib Desert: Infected zebra most likely causes death of three cheetahs Posted: 27 Sep 2021 02:29 PM PDT 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.

Amazonian protected areas benefit both people and biodiversity Posted: 27 Sep 2021 12:05 PM PDT 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.

Late Pleistocene humans may have hatched and raised cassowary chicks Posted: 27 Sep 2021 12:05 PM PDT 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.

Sunlight exposure guidelines may need to be revised Posted: 27 Sep 2021 12:05 PM PDT Previously published solar exposure guidelines for optimal vitamin D synthesis based on a study of skin samples may need to be revised.

N95 respirators could offer robust protection from wildfire smoke Posted: 27 Sep 2021 11:36 AM PDT 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%.

Withdrawal from psychostimulants restructures functional architecture of brain Posted: 27 Sep 2021 11:36 AM PDT 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.

Drugs used by some Type 2 diabetics may lessen risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes, study suggests Posted: 27 Sep 2021 10:20 AM PDT A type of drug already used to treat obesity and Type 2 diabetes, when taken six months prior to the diagnosis of COVID-19, was associated with a decreased risk of hospitalization, respiratory complications and death in COVID-19 patients with Type 2 diabetes, according to researchers.

Benefits of early intervention in autoimmune diseases Posted: 27 Sep 2021 10:20 AM PDT Complex autoimmune diseases affecting various organ systems remain one of the greatest medical challenges in spite of immense advances in treatment. In particular, the diffuse symptoms at the early stage of complex autoimmune diseases make it hard to diagnose the condition early on, which in turn delays treatment. A team of researchers has now demonstrated that treatment can be extremely effective if autoimmune diseases are treated as early as possible, even before the first clinical symptoms appear.

Detecting dementia in the blood Posted: 27 Sep 2021 10:20 AM PDT Researchers want to image proteins with unprecedented precision -- and thus gain insights into the molecular pathogenesis of Alzheimer's. This should pave the way for an earlier diagnosis of the dementia disorder via a simple blood test. A successful pilot study has now been completed.

Record in materials research: X-ray microscopy with 1000 tomograms per second Posted: 27 Sep 2021 10:20 AM PDT Tomoscopy is an imaging method in which three-dimensional images of the inside of materials are calculated in rapid succession. Now a team has achieved a new record: with 1000 tomograms per second, it is now possible to non-destructively document very fast processes and developments in materials on the micrometer scale, such as the burning of a sparkler or the foaming of a metal alloy for the production of stable lightweight materials.

Earth and Venus grew up as rambunctious planets Posted: 27 Sep 2021 10:19 AM PDT Using machine learning and simulations of giant impacts, researchers found that the planets residing in the inner solar system were likely born from repeated hit-and-run collisions, challenging conventional models of planet formation.

Watching SARS-CoV-2 spread in animal models in real time Posted: 27 Sep 2021 09:12 AM PDT 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.

Discovery of mechanics of drug targets for COVID-19 Posted: 27 Sep 2021 09:12 AM PDT Researchers have discovered the working mechanism of potential drug targets for various diseases such as cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and even COVID-19. The findings uncover the inner workings of cell receptors that are involved in cancer progression and inflammatory diseases.

Reducing tropical cyclone impacts: The double benefit of climate protection through both limiting and delaying global warming Posted: 27 Sep 2021 08:05 AM PDT 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.

Ultrathin quantum dot LED that can be folded freely as paper Posted: 27 Sep 2021 08:05 AM PDT Scientists have unveiled an ultrathin quantum dot LED that can be folded as freely as paper. The new device can be folded into complex 3D structures such as butterflies, airplanes, and pyramids.

Hyena scavenging provides public health and economic benefits to African cities Posted: 27 Sep 2021 08:05 AM PDT 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.

Hungry or full: It comes down to the atomic details Posted: 27 Sep 2021 08:05 AM PDT 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.

When accidents happen, drones weigh their options Posted: 27 Sep 2021 08:05 AM PDT Flying cars, drones, and other urban aerial mobility vehicles have real potential to provide efficient transportation and delivery solutions, but what happens if a drone delivering cheeseburgers breaks down over a city park or in the middle of a crowded street? Researchers developed a method to measure vehicles' ability to recover and complete its mission safely.

Taking the guesswork out of genetic engineering Posted: 27 Sep 2021 08:04 AM PDT 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.

Learning helps tobacco hawkmoths to select a nectar source and oviposition site more efficiently Posted: 27 Sep 2021 07:26 AM PDT 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.

This is what it looks like when a black hole snacks on a star Posted: 27 Sep 2021 07:26 AM PDT Analyzing observations of an X-ray flare and fitting the data with theoretical models, astronomers documented a fatal encounter between an unlucky star and a black hole.

Spouses really are together in sickness and in health suggests new study Posted: 27 Sep 2021 07:25 AM PDT Examining spouses from Japan and the Netherlands, a new study suggests that couples have a high degree of commonality in body shape, blood pressure, and even incidences of some diseases.

Healthy changes in diet, activity improved treatment-resistant high blood pressure Posted: 27 Sep 2021 06:21 AM PDT A healthy eating plan, weight loss and improved aerobic fitness can significantly reduce blood pressure and improve heart health in people with resistant hypertension -- a condition in which blood pressure remains high despite the use of three or more antihypertensive medications.

COVID-19 pandemic has caused the biggest decrease in life expectancy since World War II, study finds Posted: 27 Sep 2021 05:22 AM PDT A dataset on mortality from 29 countries, spanning most of Europe, the United States and Chile, found that 27 countries saw reductions in life expectancy in 2020, and at a scale which wiped out years of progress on mortality. The large declines in life expectancy in the U.S. can partly be explained by the notable increase in mortality at working ages observed in 2020.

‘Back to basics’ approach helps unravel new phase of matter Posted: 27 Sep 2021 05:22 AM PDT A new phase of matter, thought to be understandable only using quantum physics, can be studied with far simpler classical methods.

Finger tracing enhances learning: Evidence for 100-year-old practice used by Montessori Posted: 26 Sep 2021 03:27 PM PDT A practice used by education pioneer Montessori in the early 1900s has received further validation, with studies showing that finger tracing makes learning easier and more motivating. Imagining an object after tracing it can generate even faster learning, for children and adults alike.

A 3D-printed vaccine patch offers vaccination without a shot Posted: 24 Sep 2021 03:25 PM PDT Scientists have created a 3D-printed vaccine patch that provides greater protection than a typical vaccine shot.

Shrinking waveforms on electrocardiograms predict worsening health and death of hospitalized COVID-19 and influenza patients Posted: 24 Sep 2021 03:25 PM PDT Specific and dynamic changes on electrocardiograms (EKGs) of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 or influenza can help predict a timeframe for worsening health and death, according to a new study.

Unusual visual examination of objects may indicate later autism diagnosis in infants Posted: 24 Sep 2021 03:25 PM PDT A new study suggests that unusual visual inspection of objects may precede the development of the social symptoms that are characteristic of autism syndrome disorder.

New potential factor contributing to severity of COVID-19 identified Posted: 24 Sep 2021 07:43 AM PDT Researchers have identified a protein that may critically contribute to severe forms of COVID-19.

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