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• Does eating fish protect our brains from air pollution?
• When should you neuter your dog to avoid health risks?
• Single drop of blood could help rapidly detect radiation sickness
• 'Bystander' Cs meet their match in gene-editing technique
• World population likely to shrink after mid-century, forecasting major shifts in global population and economic power
• Twisting magnetic fields for extreme plasma compression
• High-fat diet with antibiotic use linked to gut inflammation
• Molecular 'tails' are secret ingredient for gene activation in humans, yeast, and other organisms
• Urban bees: Pollinator diversity and plant interactions in city green spaces
• Scientists uncover key process in the manufacture of ribosomes and proteins
• Credit-card sized tool provides new insights into how cancer cells invade host tissues
• Only a third of pediatricians fully follow guidelines on peanut allergy prevention
• Bacteria with a metal diet discovered in dirty glassware
• Study first to show tiger sharks' travels and desired hangouts in the Gulf of Mexico
• Study of natural gas flaring finds high risks to babies
• Early life stress is associated with youth-onset depression for some types of stress but not others
• Researchers find three distinct immune responses for sicker COVID-19 patients
• In one hour, surface coating inactivates virus that causes COVID-19
• Tech to help autonomous vehicles better scan for nearby fast-moving objects
• Scientists build high-performing hybrid solar energy converter
• Designing DNA from scratch: Engineering the functions of micrometer-sized DNA droplets
• Researchers outline strategy for testing ketone bodies against COVID-19
• Researchers 3D print a working heart pump with real human cells
• Rewriting history: New evidence challenges Euro-centric narrative of early colonization
• Common FDA-approved drug may effectively neutralize virus that causes COVID-19
• Tree planting does not always boost ecosystem carbon stocks, study finds
• Novel biomarker technology for cancer diagnostics
• Children exposed to Deepwater Horizon oil spill suffered physical, mental health effects
• Exploring how a scorpion toxin might help treat heart attacks
• New hyperbaric oxygen therapy protocol can improve cognitive function of older adults
• How flies flip around on take-off from an upside- down position
• Sun and rain transform asphalt binder into potentially toxic compounds
• Coumarin compounds from oak barrels could contribute to bitter taste in wine and spirits
• New material mimics strength, toughness of mother of pearl
• New promising treatment uses smart nanoparticles to target lung cancer
• Flavored cigarette ban significantly reduced youth smoking, new study finds
• Bed bugs modify microbiome of homes they infest
• Low-cost catalyst helps turn seawater into fuel at scale
• New research highlights increased loneliness in over-70s during COVID-19 pandemic
• After universal masking, health care worker COVID-19 rates drop at Mass General Brigham
• Super-agers show resistance to tau and amyloid accumulation
• New chemical analyzes: What did Danes and Italians in the Middle Ages have in common?
• COVID-19: Patients improve after immune-suppressant treatment
• Spread of flu virus in hospital environment common
• Monitoring groundwater changes more precisely
• Novel test method detects coronavirus in highly diluted gargle samples
• Mystery about history of genetic disease in horses
• Higher-order topology found in 2D crystal
• Regular physical activity seems to enhance cognition in children who need it most
• Neuronal circuits in the brain 'sense' our inner state
• Learning the wiring diagram for autism spectrum disorders
• Move over, Siri! Researchers develop improv-based Chatbot
• A nanomaterial path forward for COVID-19 vaccine development
• Multidisciplinary approach more effective for gut disorders
• New organic material unlocks faster and more flexible electronic devices
• Boosting immune memory could reduce cancer recurrence
• New study shows how plants regulate their growth-inhibiting hormones to survive
• Renewable energy transition makes dollars and sense
• Global methane emissions soar to record high
• For chimpanzees, salt and pepper hair not a marker of old age

Does eating fish protect our brains from air pollution? Posted: 15 Jul 2020 01:35 PM PDT Older women who eat more than one to two servings a week of baked or broiled fish or shellfish may consume enough omega-3 fatty acids to counteract the effects of air pollution on the brain, according to a new study.

When should you neuter your dog to avoid health risks? Posted: 15 Jul 2020 01:00 PM PDT A new, 10-year study by researchers at the University of California, Davis, examined 35 dog breeds and found vulnerability from neutering, and the age at which they are neutered, varies greatly depending on the breed.

Single drop of blood could help rapidly detect radiation sickness Posted: 15 Jul 2020 12:42 PM PDT A new proof-of-concept study reports evidence that a new testing method has the potential to rapidly identify radiation sickness based on biomarkers measured through a single drop of blood. Scientists say the test could help save lives through early and real-time identification of the condition to enable timely clinical interventions.

'Bystander' Cs meet their match in gene-editing technique Posted: 15 Jul 2020 12:42 PM PDT Biomolecular engineers have developed new tools to increase the accuracy of CRISPR single-base editing to treat genetic diseases.

World population likely to shrink after mid-century, forecasting major shifts in global population and economic power Posted: 15 Jul 2020 12:04 PM PDT With widespread, sustained declines in fertility, the world population will likely peak in 2064 at around 9.7 billion, and then decline to about 8.8 billion by 2100 -- about 2 billion lower than some previous estimates, according to a new study.

Twisting magnetic fields for extreme plasma compression Posted: 15 Jul 2020 11:24 AM PDT A new spin on the magnetic compression of plasmas could improve materials science, nuclear fusion research, X-ray generation and laboratory astrophysics.

High-fat diet with antibiotic use linked to gut inflammation Posted: 15 Jul 2020 11:24 AM PDT Researchers have found that combining a Western-style high-fat diet with antibiotic use significantly increases the risk of developing pre- inflammatory bowel disease. This combination shuts down the mitochondria in cells of the colon lining, leading to gut inflammation. Mesalazine can help restart the mitochondria and treat pre-IBD condition.

Molecular 'tails' are secret ingredient for gene activation in humans, yeast, and other organisms Posted: 15 Jul 2020 11:23 AM PDT Researchers have discovered how diverse forms of life are able to use the same cellular machinery for DNA transcription.

Urban bees: Pollinator diversity and plant interactions in city green spaces Posted: 15 Jul 2020 11:23 AM PDT With the right mix of plants, urban green spaces can be a rich habitat to support diverse pollinators, according to a new study.

Scientists uncover key process in the manufacture of ribosomes and proteins Posted: 15 Jul 2020 11:23 AM PDT Researchers have shown that an enzyme called RNA polymerase (Pol) II drives generation of the building blocks of ribosomes, the molecular machines that manufacture all proteins in cells based on the genetic code.

Credit-card sized tool provides new insights into how cancer cells invade host tissues Posted: 15 Jul 2020 11:23 AM PDT Researchers have developed a credit-card sized tool for growing cancer cells outside the human body, which they believe will enhance their understanding of breast cancer metastasis. The device reproduces various environments within the human body where breast cancer cells live. Studying the cells as they go through the process of invasion and metastasis could point the way toward new biomarkers and drugs to diagnose and treat cancer.

Only a third of pediatricians fully follow guidelines on peanut allergy prevention Posted: 15 Jul 2020 11:23 AM PDT While 93 percent of U.S. pediatricians surveyed were aware of the national guidelines on peanut allergy prevention in infants, only 30 percent were fully implementing the recommended practices and 64 percent reported partial implementation, according to the study.

Bacteria with a metal diet discovered in dirty glassware Posted: 15 Jul 2020 11:23 AM PDT Newfound bacteria that oxidize manganese help explain the geochemistry of groundwater.

Study first to show tiger sharks' travels and desired hangouts in the Gulf of Mexico Posted: 15 Jul 2020 11:23 AM PDT From 2010 to 2018, scientists tagged 56 tiger sharks of varying life stages to track their movements via satellite. Movement patterns varied by life stage, sex, and season. Some of their core habitats overlapped with locations designated by NOAA as Habitat Areas of Particular Concern and also were found near 2,504 oil and gas platforms. Findings may help inform studies into potential climate change, oil spills, and other environmental impacts on tiger shark movement in the Gulf of Mexico.

Study of natural gas flaring finds high risks to babies Posted: 15 Jul 2020 11:23 AM PDT Researchers have found that exposure to flaring -- the burning off of excess natural gas -- at oil and gas production sites is associated with 50% higher odds of preterm birth, compared with no exposure.

Early life stress is associated with youth-onset depression for some types of stress but not others Posted: 15 Jul 2020 11:23 AM PDT Examining the association between eight different types of early life stress (ELS) and youth-onset depression, a study reports that individuals exposed to ELS were more likely to develop a major depressive disorder (MDD) in childhood or adolescence than individuals who had not been exposed to ELS.

Researchers find three distinct immune responses for sicker COVID-19 patients Posted: 15 Jul 2020 11:22 AM PDT Researchers have discovered three distinct immune responses to the SARS-CoV2 infection that could help predict the trajectory of disease in severe COVID-19 patients and may ultimately inform how to best treat them. A second study uncovered new details about the innate, or initial, response to SARS-CoV2.

In one hour, surface coating inactivates virus that causes COVID-19 Posted: 15 Jul 2020 10:12 AM PDT Researchers have developed a surface coating that, when painted on common objects, inactivates SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

Tech to help autonomous vehicles better scan for nearby fast-moving objects Posted: 15 Jul 2020 10:12 AM PDT Researchers have built a way that lidar could achieve higher-resolution detection of nearby fast-moving objects through mechanical control and modulation of light on a silicon chip.

Scientists build high-performing hybrid solar energy converter Posted: 15 Jul 2020 10:12 AM PDT Scientists have developed a hybrid solar energy converter that generates electricity and steam with high efficiency and low cost.

Designing DNA from scratch: Engineering the functions of micrometer-sized DNA droplets Posted: 15 Jul 2020 10:12 AM PDT Scientists have constructed ''DNA droplets'' comprising designed DNA nanostructures. The droplets exhibit dynamic functions such as fusion, fission, Janus-shape formation, and protein capture. Their technique is expected to be applicable to a wide variety of biomaterials, opening doors to many promising applications in materials design, drug delivery, and even artificial cell-like molecular systems.

Researchers outline strategy for testing ketone bodies against COVID-19 Posted: 15 Jul 2020 10:12 AM PDT A new review encourages researchers studying metabolism and immunity to turn their attention to ketone bodies, which are being widely studied for their role in aging, as a possible therapeutic against COVID-19, seasonal flu and other respiratory infections.

Researchers 3D print a working heart pump with real human cells Posted: 15 Jul 2020 10:12 AM PDT In a groundbreaking new study, researchers have 3D printed a functioning centimeter-scale human heart pump in the lab. The discovery could have major implications for studying heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States killing more than 600,000 people a year.

Rewriting history: New evidence challenges Euro-centric narrative of early colonization Posted: 15 Jul 2020 10:12 AM PDT New research provides evidence that Indigenous people continued to live in southeastern US and actively resist European influence for nearly 150 years after the arrival of Spanish explorers in the 1500s.

Common FDA-approved drug may effectively neutralize virus that causes COVID-19 Posted: 15 Jul 2020 09:32 AM PDT A common drug, already approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), may also be a powerful tool in fighting COVID-19, according to new research.

Tree planting does not always boost ecosystem carbon stocks, study finds Posted: 15 Jul 2020 09:31 AM PDT Planting huge numbers of trees to mitigate climate change is 'not always the best strategy' - with some experimental sites in Scotland failing to increase carbon stocks, a new study has found.

Novel biomarker technology for cancer diagnostics Posted: 15 Jul 2020 09:31 AM PDT A new way of identifying cancer biomarkers has been developed. The new technology allows very sensitive, quick and cost-effective identification of cancer biomarkers.

Children exposed to Deepwater Horizon oil spill suffered physical, mental health effects Posted: 15 Jul 2020 09:31 AM PDT A recent study has found that the Deepwater Horizon disaster was harmful to the mental and physical health of children in the area.

Exploring how a scorpion toxin might help treat heart attacks Posted: 15 Jul 2020 09:31 AM PDT Scientists are discovering potential life-saving medicines from an unlikely source: the venom of creatures like snakes, spiders and scorpions. Scorpion venom, in particular, contains a peptide that has beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system of rats with high blood pressure. Now, researchers say they know a little more about how that happens.

New hyperbaric oxygen therapy protocol can improve cognitive function of older adults Posted: 15 Jul 2020 09:31 AM PDT A new study has demonstrated for the first time that hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) can significantly enhance the cognitive performance of healthy older adults.

How flies flip around on take-off from an upside- down position Posted: 15 Jul 2020 09:31 AM PDT Flies are able to right themselves very quickly when taking off from an upside-down position. Scientists studying this phenomenon discovered the surprising way these insects begin by turning their bodies before their heads on take-off.

Sun and rain transform asphalt binder into potentially toxic compounds Posted: 15 Jul 2020 09:31 AM PDT Chemists show that asphalt binder, when exposed to sun and water, leaches thousands of potentially toxic compounds into the environment.

Coumarin compounds from oak barrels could contribute to bitter taste in wine and spirits Posted: 15 Jul 2020 09:31 AM PDT Wine and spirits are complex mixtures of flavor and aroma compounds, some of which arise during aging in wooden barrels. Among other compounds, oak wood releases coumarins, but how they affect wine's sensory properties is unclear. Now, researchers have detected and measured six coumarins in oak wood, wine and spirits, showing that a combination of these compounds can produce a bitter taste.

New material mimics strength, toughness of mother of pearl Posted: 15 Jul 2020 09:31 AM PDT In the summer, many people enjoy walks along the beach looking for seashells. Among the most prized are those that contain iridescent mother of pearl (also known as nacre) inside. But many beachcombers would be surprised to learn that shimmery nacre is one of nature's strongest, most resilient materials. Now, researchers have made a material with interlocked mineral layers that resembles nacre and is stronger and tougher than previous mimics.

New promising treatment uses smart nanoparticles to target lung cancer Posted: 15 Jul 2020 09:31 AM PDT A new and promising approach for treatment of lung cancer has been developed. The treatment combines a novel surgical approach with smart nanoparticles to specifically target lung tumors.

Flavored cigarette ban significantly reduced youth smoking, new study finds Posted: 15 Jul 2020 09:31 AM PDT Researchers analyzed National Survey on Drug Use and Health data to test the effect of the 2009 U.S. flavored cigarette ban. The study found the ban reduced underage smoking by 43% and smoking among young adults by 27%. Researchers call for more comprehensive bans of flavored tobacco products to reduce youth use of these dangerous products.

Bed bugs modify microbiome of homes they infest Posted: 15 Jul 2020 09:31 AM PDT Bed bug infestations can modify the home microbiome, according to a new study. When bed bugs are eradicated, home microbiomes return to normal.

Low-cost catalyst helps turn seawater into fuel at scale Posted: 15 Jul 2020 09:31 AM PDT The Navy's quest to power its ships by converting seawater into fuel is one step nearer fruition. Chemical engineers have demonstrated that a potassium-promoted molybdenum carbide catalyst efficiently and reliably converts carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide, a critical step in the process.

New research highlights increased loneliness in over-70s during COVID-19 pandemic Posted: 15 Jul 2020 08:14 AM PDT A new report highlights effects of COVID-19 government measures on Ireland's older population. The research finds that public health measures such as social distancing and cocooning to curb the spread of the virus has increased levels of loneliness and social isolation in older people.

After universal masking, health care worker COVID-19 rates drop at Mass General Brigham Posted: 15 Jul 2020 08:14 AM PDT A new study makes it clear: after universal masking was implemented at Mass General Brigham, the rate of COVID-19 infection among health care workers dropped significantly.

Super-agers show resistance to tau and amyloid accumulation Posted: 15 Jul 2020 08:14 AM PDT Super-agers, or individuals whose cognitive skills are above the norm even at an advanced age, have been found to have increased resistance to tau and amyloid proteins, according to new research.

New chemical analyzes: What did Danes and Italians in the Middle Ages have in common? Posted: 15 Jul 2020 08:14 AM PDT Chemists have analyzed bones from a Danish and an Italian cemetery, casting light on the lives of nobles and common people in the north and the south of Europe.

COVID-19: Patients improve after immune-suppressant treatment Posted: 15 Jul 2020 08:14 AM PDT Most patients hospitalized with COVID-19 (coronavirus) pneumonia experienced improvement after receiving an FDA-approved drug normally given for rheumatoid arthritis, according to an observational study. Outcomes for patients who received the drug, tocilizumab, included reduced inflammation, oxygen requirements, blood pressure support and risk of death, compared with published reports of illness and death associated with severely ill COVID-19 patients.

Spread of flu virus in hospital environment common Posted: 15 Jul 2020 08:14 AM PDT One in four inpatients with influenza in a given season showed signs of having become infected during care.

Monitoring groundwater changes more precisely Posted: 15 Jul 2020 08:14 AM PDT A new method could help to track groundwater changes better than before. Researchers have compared gravity field data from the GRACE and GRACE-Follow On satellite missions with other measuring methods. They investigated the seasonal water storage in almost 250 river basins in Asia, whose water regime is dominated by monsoon. The results allow the large-scale GRACE data to be scaled down to smaller regions.

Novel test method detects coronavirus in highly diluted gargle samples Posted: 15 Jul 2020 08:14 AM PDT Pharmacists have succeeded in detecting small amounts of coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 using mass spectrometry. For their investigation, they used gargle solutions of COVID-19 patients. The novel method might supplement conventional tests.

Mystery about history of genetic disease in horses Posted: 15 Jul 2020 08:14 AM PDT Warmblood fragile foal syndrome is a severe, usually fatal, genetic disease that manifests itself after birth in affected horses. Due to the defect, the connective tissue is unstable. Under force, the skin tears from the tissue underneath and the joints can dislocate. Researchers have now been able to prove that the disease did not stem from the English thoroughbred stallion Dark Ronald XX.

Higher-order topology found in 2D crystal Posted: 15 Jul 2020 08:14 AM PDT The research team took a new approach by using the Josephson junctions to spatially resolve the supercurrent flow and to show that WTe2 does indeed appear to have hinge states and be a higher-order topological insulator. They have identified a new higher-order topological insulator. It is a layered two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDC) called WTe2. This is a famous material in condensed matter physics that displays a variety of exotic properties from titanic magnetoresistance to quantized spin hall effect.

Regular physical activity seems to enhance cognition in children who need it most Posted: 15 Jul 2020 08:14 AM PDT Researchers re-analyzed data from three experiments that tested whether physical activity interventions lead to improved cognitive skills in children. They found that (1) the benefits of regular exercise on cognition were greater in children who have poor cognitive performance before the intervention and (2) spending time on physical activity did not hinder cognition in children who already had good cognitive performance before the intervention.

Neuronal circuits in the brain 'sense' our inner state Posted: 15 Jul 2020 08:14 AM PDT How decisions are made and how behavior is controlled is one of the most important questions in neuroscience. The neurotransmitter dopamine plays a central role in all of this. Scientists looked into the role that dopamine plays in the decision-making process and in controlling movement.

Learning the wiring diagram for autism spectrum disorders Posted: 15 Jul 2020 06:55 AM PDT Researchers have identified brain circuitry that plays a key role in the dysfunctional social, repetitive, and inflexible behavioral differences that characterize autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The findings could lead to new therapies.

Move over, Siri! Researchers develop improv-based Chatbot Posted: 15 Jul 2020 06:55 AM PDT Computer scientists have incorporated improv dialogues into chatbots to produce more grounded and engaging interactions.

A nanomaterial path forward for COVID-19 vaccine development Posted: 15 Jul 2020 06:55 AM PDT From mRNA vaccines entering clinical trials, to peptide-based vaccines and using molecular farming to scale vaccine production, the COVID-19 pandemic is pushing new and emerging nanotechnologies into the frontlines and the headlines. Nanoengineers detail the current approaches to COVID-19 vaccine development, and highlight how nanotechnology has enabled these advances, in a review article.

Multidisciplinary approach more effective for gut disorders Posted: 15 Jul 2020 06:54 AM PDT Researchers have conducted a trial involving 144 patients to compare the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary clinic - involving gastroenterologists, dieticians, psychiatrists and physiotherapists - with usual gastroenterology specialist-only care.

New organic material unlocks faster and more flexible electronic devices Posted: 15 Jul 2020 06:54 AM PDT Mobile phones and other electronic devices made from an organic material that is thin, bendable and more powerful are now a step closer.

Boosting immune memory could reduce cancer recurrence Posted: 15 Jul 2020 06:54 AM PDT A new study on how immune memory can be targeted and improve immunotherapy and prevent cancer recurrence.

New study shows how plants regulate their growth-inhibiting hormones to survive Posted: 15 Jul 2020 06:54 AM PDT Scientists have, for the first time, observed one of the natural mechanisms underlying the regulation of the levels of growth inhibiting hormone in plants. This mechanism had been hitherto seen in bacteria, but its discovery in plants will enable novel ways of increasing crop productivity globally.

Renewable energy transition makes dollars and sense Posted: 15 Jul 2020 06:54 AM PDT Ne research has disproved the claim that the transition to renewable electricity systems will harm the global economy.

Global methane emissions soar to record high Posted: 14 Jul 2020 03:22 PM PDT The pandemic has tugged carbon emissions down, temporarily. But levels of the powerful heat-trapping gas methane continue to climb, dragging the world further away from a path that skirts the worst effects of global warming.

For chimpanzees, salt and pepper hair not a marker of old age Posted: 14 Jul 2020 03:21 PM PDT Silver strands and graying hair is a sign of aging in humans, but things aren't so simple for our closest ape relatives --the chimpanzee. A new study found graying hair is not indicative of a chimpanzee's age.

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