Harnessing new technologies and policies for better ocean observation
Automatic ship identification systems (AIS) have much potential to provide useful marine data and inform international marine policies, but inconsistent use of this technology, as well as...
View ArticleSocial networks used in the assessment of damage caused by natural disasters
An international scientific study, involving Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M), has carried research into the use of social networks such as Twitter, as tools for monitoring, assessing and even...
View ArticleChinese scientists realize quantum simulation of the Unruh effect
The Unruh effect is one of the most fundamental manifestations of the fact that the particle content of a field theory is observer dependent. However, there has been so far no experimental...
View ArticlePolyU develops novel nano biosensor for rapid detection of flu virus
The Department of Applied Physics (AP) and Interdisciplinary Division of Biomedical Engineering (BME) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) have jointly developed a novel nano biosensor for...
View ArticleDistributions of tetraether lipids in the Third Pole Region
Several organic paleothermometers based on tetraether lipids, called GDGTs have been introduced since the beginning of the 21st century. However, field investigations of GDGTs on Tibetan Plateau are...
View ArticleSubstantial proportion of US measles cases intentionally unvaccinated
An analysis of numerous studies and reports finds that unvaccinated or undervaccinated U.S. individuals comprised substantial proportions of cases in measles and some pertussis outbreaks, and vaccine...
View ArticleStudy examines link between genetically elevated maternal BMI and higher...
In a study that included more than 30,000 women, genetically elevated maternal body mass index (BMI) and blood glucose levels were potentially causally associated with higher offspring birth weight,...
View ArticleAssessing emergence of SARS-like epidemic viruses
A study reports methods to assess the likelihood of emergence and epidemic potential of SARS-like zoonotic viruses. The precise likelihood of emergence of zoonotic coronaviruses with epidemic...
View ArticleOverweight reporting in New York City schools
Body mass index (BMI) reports given by schools to students and their parents may not be an effective tool for reducing obesity, a study suggests.
View ArticleTyrannosaur discovery illuminates dinosaur evolution
A primitive cousin of Tyrannosaurus rex may help explain how second-tier predators from the Early Cretaceous evolved into the behemoths that ruled the Age of Dinosaurs.
View ArticleImaging in low-light conditions
Researchers report an imaging device inspired by nature that can help visualize spatial features and boundaries of objects under low-luminance conditions.
View ArticleBonobos’ response to emotions
Bonobos share with other primates a bias toward emotional images but are mainly drawn to scenes depicting positive behaviors, a study finds.
View ArticleSelf-organization of fairy circles
Researchers report the discovery of fairy circles in the western Australian outback that are nearly identical to those found in southwestern Africa.
View ArticleAlso of interest from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
By adding temporal information and spatial resolution, researchers created 4-D maps of human cortical processing, combining anatomical and functional data from stereo-EEGs of 99 patients with epilepsy...
View ArticleReport: Despite economic gains, rural Chinese children continue to lag urban...
A new comprehensive study of children’s well-being in China reveals glaring disparities in education, economic conditions and emotional health between rural and urban children and the need for...
View ArticleSnub-nosed monkeys: Conservation challenges in the face of environmental...
The genus of snub-nosed monkey comprises five species that are only distributed in very limited areas in China, Vietnam and Myanmar.All the species of snub-nosed monkeys currently are endangered or...
View ArticleHuman challenge promises to speed up dengue vaccine development
A controlled human challenge study shows that a candidate dengue vaccine can fully protect healthy volunteers who were intentionally infected with a weak form of the dengue virus.
View ArticleModern Melanesians have retained Denisovan DNA
Although Neandertal DNA can be found in all non-African populations of modern day humans, Melanesians also harbor significant genetic components passed on from Denisovans, a new study suggests.
View ArticleEnzyme controls food intake and drives obesity
Researchers have identified an enzyme in the brain that plays a key role in regulating how much food mice eat in one sitting, finding that deletion of this enzyme caused the mice to increase their...
View ArticleMom’s microbes influence her offspring’s immune system
During gestation, a mother’s microbiome shapes the immune system of her offspring, a new study in mice suggests. While it’s known that a newborn’s gut microbiota can affect its own immune system, the...
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